Cloud Application Security
Organizations of all sizes are continuing to turn to the advantages of SaaS for day-to-day productivity—from Office 365 to and Google Workspace (formerly G Suite) to other cloud-based apps for data storage, file-sharing, and other collaborative tools.
As more and more of these essential apps are hosted in the cloud, they bring additional cybersecurity concerns for CSOs and IT administrators.
Common Cloud Security Vulnerabilities
Common cloud application security vulnerabilities include:
Cloud App Misconfiguration
Vulnerabilities overlooked during initial setup or updates of cloud-based apps expose data to potential breaches from public or hybrid cloud environments.
Unauthorized Access
Mission-critical data is left unprotected when internal users are granted unrestricted access privileges to areas of the network which are not essential to their specialized roles.
Insecure APIs
Compromised API keys within the public internet are the Achilles’ Heel of many third-party cloud-based apps, enabling bad actors to mount denial-of-service attacks or commit cyber financial fraud against victimized networks.
Shadow IT
As many corporate workforces remain scattered and remote, some employees may independently seek out their own technical solutions—downloading third-party products or malicious apps that mimic legitimate software—without their IT department’s oversight or even knowledge.
Vulnerabilities overlooked during initial setup or updates of cloud-based apps expose data to potential breaches from public or hybrid cloud environments.
Mission-critical data is left unprotected when internal users are granted unrestricted access privileges to areas of the network which are not essential to their specialized roles.
Compromised API keys within the public internet are the Achilles’ Heel of many third-party cloud-based apps, enabling bad actors to mount denial-of-service attacks or commit cyber financial fraud against victimized networks.
As many corporate workforces remain scattered and remote, some employees may independently seek out their own technical solutions—downloading third-party products or malicious apps that mimic legitimate software—without their IT department’s oversight or even knowledge.
Effective Cloud Application Management
With so many vital applications transitioning to the cloud, where and how can network administrators achieve and maintain effective cloud application management?
Open Systems delivers cloud app management solutions, enabling reliable, scalable cloud access to all users from any remote location. From a centralized single-pane-of-glass interface, IT administrators can effectively monitor all applications across their cloud network:
- Tracking all active cloud services and specific user endpoints
- Automating Data Loss Prevention (DLP) policies to guard against emerging security threats.
- Ensuring all cloud-based apps meet 24/7 regulatory compliance for protected data.
- Establishing a Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) framework to prevent any unauthorized network data access—internally or externally.
- Identifying potentially compromised user accounts.
- Facilitating rapid response/remediation of suspected data breaches.
Open Systems' Industry-leading Cybersecurity
As cloud-based apps are increasingly vital for every business organization, IT teams scramble for any advantage to maintain seamless access, reliability, and security for every user. A trusted partner can help.
Speak with an Open Systems customer advocate to learn more about how our three decades of network experience can deliver optimized cloud application management solutions, as well as how to leverage further our leading-edge ZTNA, MDR, and SASE services.
