Source URL: https://cloud.google.com/blog/topics/threat-intelligence/protecting-multi-cloud-resources-modern-cyberattacks/
Source: Cloud Blog
Title: Protecting Multi-Cloud Resources in the Era of Modern Cloud-Based Cyberattacks
Feedly Summary: Written by: Rupa Mukherjee, Jon Sabberton
In the era of multi-cloud adoption, where organizations leverage diverse cloud platforms to optimize their operations, a new wave of security challenges have emerged. The expansion of attack surfaces beyond traditional on-premises environments, coupled with complex permission structures and the prevalence of overly permissive accounts, has created fertile ground for sophisticated cyberattacks.
Our white paper, Standardizing Privileged Access Architecture for Multi-Cloud, explores the critical risks associated with multi-cloud environments, and provides a practical framework for establishing a robust security posture.
This Mandiant paper delves into the intricacies of managing disparate cloud identities, roles, and access control models, highlighting the vulnerabilities that arise from misconfigurations and fragmented security practices. Additionally, this paper examines real-world attack scenarios observed by Mandiant, demonstrating how threat actors exploit these weaknesses to compromise sensitive data, disrupt operations, and gain unauthorized control.
To counter these evolving threats, Mandiant introduces a cloud agnostic tiered security model revolving the following controls, to protect privileged access to critical assets in the cloud:
Resource tiering within cloud platforms
Limiting lateral movement through credential tiering
Enforcing strict access controls through a zero-trust approach
Apply scalable security configurations and governance for all resources
Consistent monitoring and analytics practices
This paper discusses an architecture for cloud agnostic tiering, and how it will help protect a hybrid multi-cloud environment from various modern cyberattacks. By implementing the proactive measures outlined in this paper, organizations can effectively mitigate risks associated with a hybrid multi-cloud environment, limit paths of lateral movement, and protect their critical assets in the dynamic multi-cloud landscape.
For organizations exploring multi-cloud deployments and those attempting to secure their current cloud resources, this paper serves as a vital guidance to harden their environment against cloud-based attacks.
Read the paper today. This paper will also be covered as part of our “Standardizing a Privileged Access Model for a Multi-Cloud Environment” session at mWISE Conference 2024, and the session will also be made available on-demand after the event.
AI Summary and Description: Yes
Summary: The text addresses the emerging security challenges in multi-cloud environments and presents a white paper that provides a framework for managing privileged access in these settings. It highlights the risks associated with fragmented security practices and offers concrete measures, such as a zero-trust approach and resource tiering, to enhance security.
Detailed Description: The content focuses on the critical security challenges posed by multi-cloud adoption, a trend where organizations utilize multiple cloud services to optimize their operations. As companies transition to these complex environments, issues such as increased attack surfaces and mismanagement of permissions become prominent, leading to security vulnerabilities.
Key points from the text include:
– **Emerging Security Challenges**: The transition to multi-cloud leads to increased complexities and attack surfaces that are distinct from traditional on-premises environments.
– **Critical Risks**: The paper addresses risks associated with:
– Disparate cloud identities
– Complex role and access control models
– Misconfigurations that can arise from fragmented security practices
– **Real-World Threats**: It outlines actual attack scenarios observed by Mandiant, emphasizing how threat actors exploit vulnerabilities to compromise data and disrupt operations.
– **Proposed Security Model**: Mandiant introduces a tiered security model composed of several controls aimed at securing privileged access:
– **Resource Tiering**: Categorizing resources within cloud platforms to manage access more effectively.
– **Credential Tiering**: Limiting lateral movement by implementing tiered credentials.
– **Zero-Trust Access Controls**: Enforcing strict access controls to ensure that only authorized users can access critical assets.
– **Scalable Security Configurations**: Enabling adaptive governance of all resources in the cloud.
– **Ongoing Monitoring**: Integrating consistent monitoring and analytics to detect and respond to threats.
– **Significance**: The paper serves as essential reading for organizations looking to strengthen their security posture in multi-cloud environments, particularly in the face of evolving cyber threats.
– **Future Engagement**: The content also highlights the upcoming mWISE Conference 2024, where the paper will be presented, signaling it as part of a broader discourse on best practices for securing multi-cloud environments.
In summary, the paper provides actionable insights that can assist professionals in fortifying security strategies against burgeoning cyber threats within multi-cloud frameworks, promoting a proactive approach through tiered security architecture and the adoption of zero-trust principles.