Top 6 Multi-Cloud Security Threats to Be Aware of in 2024

Several businesses have shifted to multi-cloud environments over the last few years. This is due to this infrastructure's reliability, flexibility, and cost-saving benefits.

Unfortunately, with this shift comes a new range of security threats. If you’re operating within a multi-cloud environment, here are a few security vulnerabilities you need to be aware of in 2024.

2024 Multi-Cloud Security Threats to Plan For

1. Increase In Data Breaches

As we move into 2024, businesses can expect to see an increase in the frequency and maturity of cloud-based threats.

According to Google’s Cybersecurity Forecast 2024 report, attackers will spend more time trying to find weaknesses in cloud infrastructures, particularly in the cross-over between public and hybrid cloud environments.

To prepare for a potential increase in attacks, it’s highly recommended that you assess the exposure management tools you are currently using. Proactive risk management needs to be an integral part of daily operations within your organization, allowing for speedier response times.

You may even want to decide whether you need to shift to cloud service providers that offer more comprehensive protection strategies.

2. A Focus on AI Platforms

According to a McKinsey Global Survey, one in three businesses are currently utilizing generative AI in their daily functions. The adoption of cloud-based AI platforms such as Azure OpenAI and Google Cloud Vertex AI has also increased.

This means that attacks targeted at AI platforms have also increased, something we can expect to see more of in 2024. Model data poisoning is one tactic that is frequently being used. It’s the process of feeding incorrect or inappropriate data to the system to influence its training. This can cause unnecessary computations and additional operational costs.

Any devices that are exposed to the internet could also provide unauthorized access to a model’s code, which can lead to the theft of algorithms and even enable remote code execution.

If you are currently using AI in conjunction with data such as identifiable information, payment information, or dev keys and tokens, additional precautions are required to prevent sensitive data exposure.

To mitigate these risks, it’s essential to adhere to the Principle of Least Privilege (PoLP)and thoroughly encrypt your data.

Continuous monitoring of your platform’s activities is also critical. It will ensure you can pick up on suspicious behavior sooner rather than later. Lastly, you want to ensure you are training your employees about potential threats and security best practices.

3. Advanced Phishing Tactics

The people within your organization will always be one of your greatest security threats, which is why phishing is still one of the most common types of attacks linked to multi-cloud environments.

According to this State of Cloud Security report, 50% of businesses say their cloud data breaches were related to access, this number increases by company size and reaches 38% for enterprises with more than 20,000 employees.

AI is one of the main reasons why these attacks are still common and far more effective than they once were. It’s much easier for AI technology to create believable messages and emails.

A successful phishing attack can lead to leaked credentials and bypassed authentication processes, giving unauthorized users access to your most sensitive data.

Limiting the effects of phishing scams starts with strong Identity and Access Management (IAM) and Multi-Factor Authentication. Alongside this, training your staff to be more cognizant of what a phishing attack looks like can reduce data breach risks.

4. Supply Chain Software Vulnerabilities

This is another area where multi-cloud environments are most vulnerable. Countless cyber attackers are targeting third-party supply chain software providers.

Over 61% of companies in the United States were impacted by these types of attacks between 2022 and 2023. Okta and CircleCI were two companies that were involved in security breaches over the last few years.

By exploiting third-party links to sensitive data, attackers can get a hold of tokens and credentials. This gives them the ability to control key systems and access customer data.

What’s more, if your customers have installed the same software package, attacks related to malicious code can affect more than just your company.

Fortunately, there are a few steps you can take to prevent your supply chain software from becoming a security risk.

Along with encrypting API keys, tokens, and customer data, it helps to regularly rotate any keys and tokens. Doing so reduces the chances of an attacker being able to gain access to your cloud-stored data.

It also helps to implement the Principle of Least Privilege and conduct automated security scans.

Lastly, make sure you do your due diligence when considering your cloud service providers and other third-party vendors. Find out as much as you can about their security practices and risk management protocols to reduce the chances of a security breach.

5. Multi-Cloud Complexity Exploitation

Moving to the cloud means administrators need to keep track of several moving parts, even more so when operating in a multi-cloud environment.

As more organizations adopt this infrastructure and the chances of administrative errors increase, security risks increase too.

Every cloud provider has different configurations and security policies, which is what makes it easier to make mistakes during implementation and management.

Overcoming this risk and ensuring that attackers cannot exploit any vulnerabilities means adopting a security strategy that includes a CNAPP or CSPM solution.

This solution provides businesses with a single view of their multi-cloud environment, which reduces the need to constantly configure, update, and manage multiple dashboards.

6. Quantum Computing Advancements

In the beginning, encryption algorithms such as RSA were implemented to prevent attacks from utilizing quantum computing to crack passwords.

However, quantum computing has since become more advanced, which makes it much easier for cybercriminals to run countless computations at once to reveal passwords. Algorithms such as RSA may soon become obsolete, so organizations need to prepare accordingly.

Implementing quantum-resistant cryptographic algorithms is one of the only ways to overcome this impending problem.

Adapting Your Strategies to Prevent Multi-Cloud Security Threats

As we head into a new year, having a view of the threats that could potentially impact your multi-cloud environment is the first step. Developing a more flexible and comprehensive security strategy is the next.

As attackers are becoming more innovative, businesses need to step up and do the same. As AI and quantum computing advance, we need to prepare for how the cloud may change and adapt accordingly.

Encrypting your most sensitive data, rotating API keys and tokens, and performing stringent due diligence when it comes to third-party vendors and cloud service providers can all place your organization one step ahead.