Protecting public cloud environments like Microsoft Azure is key to ensuring data security. Like private cloud servers, public cloud environments are subject to new types of cyber threats –and costly damage in the event of an attack. As a result, public cloud users may be in for a nasty surprise if the potential damage is not considered in their data security efforts.
The data security risks of Azure range from crypto mining to other malicious intentions. Because the public cloud has “unlimited” capacity and the cloud service user is responsible for mitigating damages, the risk of cyber attacks should be considered from the start. Damages for data security negligence can amount to thousands of euros per day, regardless of the volume of the cloud services used.
In this article, we discuss several methods for addressing the data security risks of Azure and preventing surprise costs and other damages in the event of a potential attack.
Well-implemented access rights management is an important part of a secure Azure environment. Adding multi-factor authentication to the login process makes it much harder to break into the environment; in this case, hijacked user names and passwords can do no harm. The free version of Microsoft Entra ID provides basic multi-factor authentication, while the P2 license allows full customization of the organization’s resources.
It is worth enabling the Security Defaults settings to prevent breaches and identity theft. The principle of least access is a good starting point for defining user names: minimize the number of strong administrator accounts and assign user rights sparingly, depending on the job description. It is important to ensure the security of strong global administrator accounts so that attackers cannot bypass defenses..
Adequate monitoring is key to controlling costs. Anti-virus software and other technical solutions alone are not enough – monitoring them and responding to exceptions is half of the equation. You can prevent unwanted costs with the Microsoft Cost Management settings, which are available to all Azure users by default. The settings are used to set budgets that cannot be changed without a sufficiently strong account.
In addition, Microsoft Defender tools can actively manage vulnerabilities and protect corporate resources from attacks with various attack blocking and automated cyber threat remediation capabilities.
If your organization does not have the resources to address Azure data security risks on a day-to-day basis, an external partner can be a valuable addition to your monitoring efforts. The partner provides useful keys to preventing attacks and minimizing damage. These include Azure-independent notifications in case the attacker succeeds in changing the cost limits and settings in Azure.
When it comes to critical resources, it is especially important to ensure that the Azure environment is sufficiently monitored. However, it is always worth investing in monitoring – the cost is only a fraction of the potential damages that the Azure user may be liable for. If 24/7 monitoring is not possible, monitoring and responding to cyber threats during business hours is also a good step forward.
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Prevent significant damage with basic measures. It’s important to ensure that security updates are installed on physical devices and network services. The organization should use internal processes for attacks, and employees should have a basic understanding of data security. Also see tips for maintaining the data security of production OT networks and servers.