Cybersecurity in the Cloud: Threat Eradication, Protection, and Recovery

Cloud computing entails the use of on-demand storage, computing, and application services that are provided remotely to users, which often involves offloading management of the underlying IT infrastructure to the cloud service provider. In recent years, adoption of cloud services has grown among organizations of all sizes due to benefits like improved flexibility and scalability; cost-effective pay-as-you-go pricing; and the wide array of cloud applications, storage, and computing options on the market. With the addition of new cloud services, however, comes a host of challenges in the form of emerging cyberthreats and security vulnerabilities. Many cloud security breaches have causes that involve human error, such as misconfigurations and susceptibility to social engineering tactics. The stakes of cloud security are high: The consequences of a cloud security incident may include exposure or loss of cloud-stored data, application downtime, and reputational damage, all of which can lead to significant business losses. This paper addresses the most common threats organizations face when adopting cloud services, how to prevent and respond to cloud security incidents, and best practices for adopting cloud technology. The paper also briefly reviews data backup and disaster recovery in the cloud and the importance of cloud forensics.