Cloud adoption has accelerated, with most organizations using two or more cloud platforms. But this shift has also attracted attackers: in 2023, threat group Storm‑0501 exploited compromised credentials and over‑privileged accounts to pivot across hybrid environments, from government agencies to manufacturers【116844760811562†L172-L181】. With 78 % of companies using two or more clouds and 86 % using multiple cloud providers, inconsistent identity and access controls create easy pathways for attackers【116844760811562†L188-L202】. Here’s how to defend your multicloud footprint.
The multicloud attack landscape
- Attackers take advantage of compromised credentials and misconfigured IAM to pivot across environments【116844760811562†L172-L181】.
- Most organizations lack consistent security posture, monitoring, and incident response across cloud vendors【116844760811562†L188-L193】.
- Tool sprawl is rampant: 92 % of companies manage too many standalone tools, leading to alert overload and siloed detection【116844760811562†L217-L233】.
Challenges in multicloud security
- Inconsistent identity management across providers (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) creates gaps.
- Misconfigurations and lack of skilled staff lead to exposures【116844760811562†L240-L252】.
- Over‑privileged accounts and long‑lived credentials grant attackers high privileges and persistence.
- Fractured visibility across different clouds and on‑prem infrastructure.
Best practices for defending multicloud environments
- Unify identity and access controls: adopt single sign‑on, federated identity protocols like SAML/OAuth, and enforce least‑privilege across all clouds【116844760811562†L255-L324】.
- Deploy cloud security posture management (CSPM): continuously audit your environments and enforce policies【116844760811562†L255-L324】.
- Consolidate security tooling: reduce blind spots and alert fatigue by choosing platforms that span multiple cloud providers.
- Improve visibility and logging: centralize logs from each cloud into a single SIEM to detect threats quickly.
- Invest in security culture and training: empower teams to follow consistent policies and remediate misconfigurations【116844760811562†L352-L367】.
- Leverage AI‑driven security: consider AI tools that correlate telemetry across clouds and detect threats faster【116844760811562†L352-L367】.
Conclusion
A successful multicloud security program requires more than tools—it’s about unifying identity management, reducing privilege, and empowering teams. By adopting consistent policies and monitoring across providers, you can close the gaps exploited by attackers like Storm‑0501 and strengthen your cloud resilience.
Sources
- [Defending Against Cloud Threats Across Multicloud Environments – Dark Reading]【116844760811562†L172-L181】【116844760811562†L188-L202】【116844760811562†L217-L233】.
Cloud adoption has accelerated, with most organizations using two or more cloud platforms. But this shift has also attracted attackers: in 2023, threat group Storm‑0501 exploited compromised credentials and over‑privileged accounts to pivot across hybrid environments, from government agencies to manufacturers【116844760811562†L172-L181】. With 78 % of companies using two or more clouds and 86 % using multiple cloud providers, inconsistent identity and access controls create easy pathways for attackers【116844760811562†L188-L202】. Here’s how to defend your multicloud footprint.
The multicloud attack landscape
- Attackers take advantage of compromised credentials and misconfigured IAM to pivot across environments【116844760811562†L172-L181】.
- Most organizations lack consistent security posture, monitoring, and incident response across cloud vendors【116844760811562†L188-L193】.
- Tool sprawl is rampant: 92 % of companies manage too many standalone tools, leading to alert overload and siloed detection【116844760811562†L217-L233】.
Challenges in multicloud security
- Inconsistent identity management across providers (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) creates gaps.
- Misconfigurations and lack of skilled staff lead to exposures【116844760811562†L240-L252】.
- Over‑privileged accounts and long‑lived credentials grant attackers high privileges and persistence.
- Fractured visibility across different clouds and on‑prem infrastructure.
Best practices for defending multicloud environments
- Unify identity and access controls: adopt single sign‑on, federated identity protocols like SAML/OAuth, and enforce least‑privilege across all clouds【116844760811562†L255-L324】.
- Deploy cloud security posture management (CSPM): continuously audit your environments and enforce policies【116844760811562†L255-L324】.
- Consolidate security tooling: reduce blind spots and alert fatigue by choosing platforms that span multiple cloud providers.
- Improve visibility and logging: centralize logs from each cloud into a single SIEM to detect threats quickly.
- Invest in security culture and training: empower teams to follow consistent policies and remediate misconfigurations【116844760811562†L352-L367】.
- Leverage AI‑driven security: consider AI tools that correlate telemetry across clouds and detect threats faster【116844760811562†L352-L367】.
Conclusion
A successful multicloud security program requires more than tools—it’s about unifying identity management, reducing privilege, and empowering teams. By adopting consistent policies and monitoring across providers, you can close the gaps exploited by attackers like Storm‑0501 and strengthen your cloud resilience.
Sources
- [Defending Against Cloud Threats Across Multicloud Environments – Dark Reading]【116844760811562†L172-L181】【116844760811562†L188-L202】【116844760811562†L217-L233】.
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