Unless you’re constantly keeping up with the latest cybersecurity news, cloudjacking may not be a term you are familiar with. A new entry point for ransomware attacks, they make data backup an even more critical component of any cybersecurity plan.
Cloud computing has been transforming businesses in the modern world, with more and more companies relying on this technology. Many elements have led to the rise of cloud solutions, such as:
- The need to access data from anywhere
- Improvement of business continuity
- The rapid adoption of mobile devices for work
- The switch to a hybrid or remote workforce
And although cloud computing is beneficial for businesses, it also faces a unique set of dangers, such as cloudjacking. Discover what cloudjacking is and why you should be worried about it.
What is Cloudjacking?
Transferring your data to the cloud can streamline business operations and make them more agile. However, it has also opened up new opportunities for cybercriminals to access your confidential data.
Cloudjacking (or cloud account hijacking) is when a cybercriminal takes over a business’s cloud account, typically by some form of social engineering.
Businesses are an attractive target to hackers due to their extensive resources. Moreover, with the frenzy of cloud adoption in recent years, companies now have more cloud accounts than they may realise.
As a result, cloudjacking may become a big problem. This is because, as companies do not always keep track of all their accounts, cloudjacking attacks can often go undetected, allowing criminals to access your sensitive data.
Read More: Stop Using Old Data Backup Systems: Protect Your Data
What Can Hackers Do When They Breach a Cloud Account?
There are several things a cybercriminal can do once they log into a business’s cloud account. Some of the dangers associated with cloudjacking include:
- Adding new users or locking your own users out of the system
- Infecting your cloud storage and computers with ransomware and malware
- Changing your business’s cloud security settings
- Stealing or deleting cloud-stored files
- Accessing any stored credit card details
- Sending phishing or spam emails from your email accounts
5 Ways You Can Protect Your Business Against Cloudjacking
As more data and sensitive information are being transferred to the cloud, the security risk of cloudjacking is something many businesses need to be aware of and protect against.
If you want to safeguard your business against cloudjacking, here are five tips to keep in mind:
1. Limit Employee Access to Sensitive Information
If you want to improve your protection against cyberattacks, limiting access to sensitive information to only a handful of people is best.
By only allowing trusted employees to access your business’s critical data, you’re decreasing the number of high-value targets and providing more security to your storage platform.
This way, if hackers get ahold of non-admin cloud accounts, they won’t be able to steal critical data.
2. Encourage the Use of VPNs
Some of your employees will likely work on the go, connecting to unsecured networks such as public Wi-Fi. However, doing so leaves them open to cyberattacks from cybercriminals with access to the same connection.
They may pose as legitimate websites to inject malware into your employee’s device or obtain critical data, such as passwords or your customers’ personal information.
Therefore, to increase your data security, you must encourage your workers to use a business virtual private network (VPN).
This encrypts their connection, allowing them to protect their information from hackers.
3. Enable Multi-Factor Authentication
One of the essential ways to enhance your cybersecurity is to create strong passwords. However, this does not mean you are completely immune to cyberattacks.
We recommend enabling multi-factor authentication across your business’s cloud accounts. It will help prevent cybercriminals from accessing your information even if they get ahold of your passwords and login details.
4. Contact A Cybersecurity Expert
Employing the help of a cybersecurity expert is one of the best ways to enhance your protection against cybercriminals. They will reconfigure your settings and install other protective software to protect your business’s IT network and infrastructure.
Moreover, these IT security professionals will also help review any possible vulnerabilities and threats in your system and can fix them immediately.
5. Use a Cloud Security Software
Businesses are increasingly using mobile devices as part of their operations. However, they often aren’t monitored and, as a result, can also be taken over by mobile malware.
It’s important to install cloud security software on your mobile devices. This type of software allows you to:
- Remotely update a device
- Remotely lock or wipe a device
- Keep out unauthorised devices
- Review cloud applications for potential security risks.
Read More: Top 3 Major Causes of Endpoint Data Loss
Maximise Your Cybersecurity
Cloudjacking has become a major problem that companies must address in their cybersecurity strategy.
As a leading cloud disaster recovery service provider in Malaysia, Aegis can help your business in ensuring you have a secure and productive cloud environment.
Aegis Cloud Production Environment (CPE) is a hosting service with complimentary disaster recovery services and daily backup with retention to a secondary location.
Moreover, we can carry out our robust enterprise data recovery services on-site or off-site, depending on your needs and budget.
