From AWS S3 bucket leaks to Google Drive phishing scams, cloud security failures are making headlines for all the wrong reasons.

So, let’s cut to the chase: Is your cloud storage actually secure? If you’re not sure, keep reading. Here are the biggest cloud security risks and, more importantly, how to fight back like a cybersecurity pro.

‍

Cloud environments introduce unique security challenges that require careful management. Below are the most critical threats to cloud security:

1. Cloud Misconfiguration and Public Exposure

‍Misconfigurations occur when cloud storage buckets, databases, or services are improperly set up, leaving them publicly accessible or vulnerable to unauthorized access.

Attackers can scan for misconfigured AWS S3 buckets, Azure Blobs, and Google Cloud Storage using tools like GrayHatWarfare, Shodan, or Bucket Finder. If cloud IAM (Identity and Access Management) roles aren’t properly defined, unauthorized users can gain access to sensitive resources.

A classic example of such an attack is: Snowflake Data Breach

‍

2. Unauthorized Access & Weak Credentials

‍This makes cloud accounts susceptible to brute-force attacks, credential stuffing, and unauthorized access attempts.

Many organizations reuse weak passwords or fail to enforce Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), allowing attackers to compromise accounts easily. Single-factor authentication for critical cloud workloads increases attack surface exposure. If in case attackers get access to an over-privileged IAM role, then they can access more resources than necessary and can misuse the resources.

This reminds of the March 2024 AT&T Data Breach that compromised the PII information of 73 million customers.

‍

3. Cloud Phishing & Social Engineering Attacks

‍Attackers use phishing emails, fake login portals, or OAuth token hijacking to steal cloud service credentials.

Hackers can impersonate cloud providers like AWS, Google Cloud, or Microsoft Azure to trick users into revealing credentials OR hackers can exploit OAuth tokens to gain persistent access to cloud environments without triggering login alerts. Even hackers can perform session hijacking attacks to bypass login credentials via stolen cookies or Man-in-the-Middle (MiTM) techniques.

Google Drive Phishing Scam (2022) was one such attack where attackers used fake Google Drive notifications to deliver malware-infected PDFs, compromising user accounts.

‍

4. Malware & Ransomware in the Cloud

‍Cloud storage is increasingly used by hackers to spread malware, inject ransomware, and encrypt sensitive data for ransom.

Attackers can upload infected files (maybe ransomware) to Google Drive, OneDrive, or Dropbox and share malicious links via phishing emails. Ransomware encrypts cloud backups and demands ransom (in crypto). Worst case scenario: If hackers can compromise cloud admin accounts then they can disable security backups and make data recovery impossible.

One of the famous ransomware attacks was the Change Healthcare Ransomware Attack (2024) which compromised 190 million records, affecting almost half of the US population.

‍

5. API Exploits and Supply Chain Attacks

‍Unsecured cloud APIs and third-party integrations create entry points for attackers to manipulate cloud services.

Many times, devs expose cloud API keys in public repositories and attackers inject malicious dependencies into cloud CI/CD pipelines. This can happen due to poor API authentication that allows unauthorized external applications to access cloud resources.

The same happened to Acme Travels where the attackers exploited vulnerabilities in the service’s API ecosystem, highlighting the dangers of insecure API integrations.

‍

Knowing the risks is just half the battle — here’s how you can actively protect your data on the cloud!

‍

1. Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) & Zero Trust Access

‍Even if attackers steal your password, MFA ensures they can’t log in without a second authentication factor.

Make sure to have everything listed here:

• Use hardware security keys (FIDO2) or Authenticator Apps instead of SMS-based MFA.
• Implement Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) to allow access only from verified devices & locations.
• Use Conditional Access Policies (Azure AD) or Context-Aware Access Controls (Google Cloud).

‍

2. Encrypt Data Before Uploading to the Cloud

‍Even if attackers gain access, encryption ensures your data remains unreadable and hackers get nuts!

But what to do? Read below:

• Use client-side encryption tools (Cryptomator, Tresorit, Boxcryptor) before uploading sensitive files.
• Enable server-side encryption in AWS, GCP, or Azure using KMS (Key Management Service).
• Enforce TLS 1.2+ encryption for all data transmissions to prevent MITM attacks.

‍

3. Implement the Principle of Least Privilege (PoLP) & Secure Cloud IAM

‍Because over-permissioned accounts are a major attack vector — limit user access to only what’s needed.

How?

• Use role-based access control (RBAC) instead of giving users full permissions.
• Regularly audit IAM roles and revoke unnecessary access.
• Use short-lived API tokens instead of long-lived credentials.

‍

4. Regularly Monitor Cloud Logs & Enable Threat Detection

‍Unusual activity logs can help detect breaches before they escalate and also help trace back & investigate if something goes wrong.

Make sure you have the below prerequisites set up:

• Enable AWS CloudTrail, GCP Cloud Audit Logs, or Azure Monitor to track login attempts & file access.
• Use SIEM (Security Information & Event Management) tools like Splunk or Microsoft Sentinel.
• Set up intrusion detection & response (IDR) solutions to alert you of anomalies.

‍

5. Secure Cloud Storage & Prevent Public Exposures

‍Misconfigured storage settings are a hacker’s dream — make sure your files aren’t accessible to the public!

Steps to follow:

• Restrict public access to AWS S3 buckets, GCP Cloud Storage, and Azure Blobs.
• Enable bucket logging & alerting to detect unauthorized file access.
• Use VPC (Virtual Private Cloud) & firewall rules to limit exposure to trusted IPs only.

Cloud security is a shared responsibility — your cloud provider offers tools, but it’s up to you to configure them correctly.

Need an expert suggestion and help to make sure your cloud infrastructure is super secure? At Resonance, we offer full-spectrum cloud cybersecurity solutions to protect your cloud infra from hackers.

Reach out to us at support@resonance.security

‍

References

[1] https://www.crowdstrike.com/en-us/cybersecurity-101/cloud-security/cloud-security-risks/

[2] https://appinventiv.com/blog/cloud-security-risks-and-solutions/

About the Author

Rhythm Jain is the Marketing Development Manager at Resonance Security, bringing several years of experience in marketing and business development. As a cybersecurity enthusiast turned marketing professional, he specializes in crafting strategies that amplify brand presence and drive user engagement across web2 and web3 ecosystems.

‍