Signs Your Online Business Platforms Are Being Targeted by Cyber Criminals
As more mid-market businesses adopt cloud and Software as a Service (SaaS) platforms to accommodate distributed or remote workforces, the attack surface for cyber criminals expands significantly. It’s essential to recognize the signs of potential cyber threats in these environments to protect your data and operations. Here’s what businesses should watch out for and how they can bolster their defenses.
1. Suspicious User Logins
Unusual login attempts from unrecognized locations or devices could indicate that your SaaS accounts are being targeted. Implementing geolocation-based alerts and monitoring for failed login attempts can help identify unauthorized access attempts.
2. Abnormal File Sharing
A sudden increase in file sharing activities, especially of sensitive data, can suggest that your cloud storage is compromised. Businesses should use cloud access security brokers (CASB) to monitor and control file sharing activities across their SaaS applications.
3. Configuration Changes
Unexpected changes to cloud infrastructure configurations, such as security settings or access controls, can be an indicator of an intruder attempting to widen their attack surface or exfiltrate data. Continuous monitoring of configuration changes is critical.
4. Increase in API Calls
An abnormal increase in API traffic can be a sign of an API attack, where attackers try to exploit APIs to access sensitive data directly. Implementing API gateways and regular audits of API usage can help mitigate these risks.
5. Unusual Email Forwarding Rules
Cyber criminals often set up forwarding rules to monitor business communications after gaining access to email accounts. Regular checks for unauthorized email forwarding rules are necessary to catch such intrusions.
6. Compliance and Audit Failures
Frequent compliance or audit failures in cloud environments can indicate underlying security issues or ongoing attacks. Maintaining robust compliance management processes is crucial for identifying and rectifying such vulnerabilities.
7. Ransomware or Malware in Cloud Data
The presence of ransomware or malware within cloud-stored data is a clear sign of a breach. Cloud-based anti-malware solutions and regular data scanning are essential to detect and respond to such threats promptly.
Proactive Measures
To protect cloud and SaaS environments effectively, businesses should consider adopting the following strategies:
• Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Enforcing MFA across all cloud services to add an additional layer of security against unauthorized access.
• Endpoint Security: Utilizing Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) systems that extend to mobile and remote devices accessing cloud services.
• Regular Security Training: Providing targeted training that includes specific information on recognizing and responding to security threats in cloud and SaaS platforms.
• Comprehensive Incident Response: Developing an incident response plan that includes scenarios specific to cloud and SaaS breaches, based on frameworks like NIST and SANS.
By understanding and monitoring these signs, businesses can significantly enhance their defensive posture against cyber threats targeting cloud and SaaS platforms. Implementing advanced security measures and maintaining vigilance in security practices will safeguard the business in the evolving digital workspace.
