As technology advances rapidly, the cloud has come to represent cost-effectiveness, scalability, and simplicity in data management and operations for companies worldwide. However, there are risks linked to cloud security, which is a unique set of vulnerabilities.
The Thales Cloud Security 2024 Report shows that just 10% of businesses encrypt 80% or more of their cloud data. This is surprising since 47% of that data is sensitive. What’s alarming about it? Sensitive data can be exposed without a strong plan. This can lead to data leaks, fines, and customers losing trust in your business. A structure for actively addressing security vulnerabilities should be in place at organizations.
It’s clear that there is a disconnect between security requirements and action, and businesses need to take immediate action to avoid becoming the next cautionary story and setting an example for other businesses. This blog helps you understand the shared responsibility model for data and app security. It explains how your company and the cloud service provider work together to keep everything safe. Let’s explore cloud risk management in greater detail.
What is a Cloud Security Assessment?
A cloud security assessment aims to detect and reduce security threats in a company’s cloud infrastructure through a thorough assessment. Organizations can protect themselves from a variety of security threats by using this crucial procedure:
- Finding vulnerabilities & possible access points in the company’s cloud infrastructure
- Examining the network for indications of abuse
- Defining strategies to stop such assaults Â
Core Components of a Cloud Security Assessment:
- Overall Security Posture: To assess the security protocols in place for the company’s cloud infrastructure, we conduct interviews and review relevant documents.
- Access Control & Management: Key management procedures, user roles, account settings, and identity and access control protocols are all examined. Â
- Network Security: Looks for typical vulnerabilities by analyzing firewall setups and network segmentation.
- Incident Management: Examines the procedures and guidelines established for handling security events that impact cloud resources.
- Storage Security: Evaluate the safety of cloud storage options, such as block and object storage, as well as the data snapshots they contain.
- Platform Services Security: Examines the security configurations of cutting-edge Cloud security assessment service that are customized for particular suppliers.
- Workload Security: Examines serverless workloads, hosted containers, virtual servers, and functions.Â
Top 7 Cloud Security Risks in 2025Â
1. Data Breaches
Hackers now have access to a wealth of data that Cloud Service Provider (CSP) maintain in both public and private clouds. Cloud-based systems have certain inherent security issues because they are accessible online. Hackers regularly search for private information that isn’t meant for everyone. They use this data to benefit themselves. However, their reasons may differ. Examples include intellectual property, trade secrets, political info, financial details, personally identifiable information (PII), and personal health information (PHI).
2. Account Hijacking
Cloud service provider often manage access to resources through specific user accounts or identity credentials. If attackers gain access to these credentials, they can access sensitive data, disrupt services, and utilize cloud resources for malicious activities, such as launching additional attacks.
Account hijacking can also lead to financial fraud, identity theft, and damage to the impacted organization’s reputation. Account hijacking has consequences that extend beyond the initial breach, as hackers may continue to use compromised accounts for prolonged periods, ultimately harming the organization’s integrity and operations over time.
3. Insecure Interfaces and APIs
Hackers can easily access your cloud service using your application programming interface (API), which is often the primary entry point. The most vulnerable asset is usually the API, as it may be the only one with a publicly accessible IP address. A Cloud Service Provider (CSP) often exposes APIs to enable interaction with their services. However, these APIs can be potential weak points if not properly secured, especially when credentials are shared with third-party vendors or external systems. This sharing can increase exposure to threats and introduce new security risks. Additionally, if an attacker gains access to a token used by one customer, they may be able to access and modify another client’s data in the same cloud-based service.
4. Misconfiguration & Inadequate Change Control
Misconfiguration is among the most common sources of cloud security threats. There is a greater likelihood of leaving a virtual door open in cloud setups that are more intricate and interconnected. Any degree of misconfiguration can occur, ranging from storage buckets being accidentally made public to unprotected API endpoints or incorrect security group configurations. Attackers have easy access points due to these mistakes.
Many organizations overlook how important it is to regularly monitor and manage their cloud settings. Without proper checks and controls, there’s a higher chance of accidentally exposing sensitive data. A cloud security assessment service helps identify these risks by reviewing your setup and ensuring everything is properly configured.
5. Malware
According to the most recent Data Breach Investigations Report, malware is still a serious threat. In this instance, hackers compromise the integrity of sensitive data, steal data, and eavesdrop using scripts or programs. Backdoor or Command and Control malware has emerged as a popular tool of choice for hackers. They first obtain access through a social media link or email. After it has entered, more malware is downloaded, encoded to evade detection, and installed straight away.
6. Data Loss
There are numerous reasons why businesses lose data on the cloud. Sometimes, data loss happens because a hacker breaks into the system and steals important information. But there are also more harmless causes. A cloud service provider might accidentally delete data, or customers could permanently lose encrypted data if they misplace the encryption key. This is where a cloud security assessment really helps by finding these risks early and making sure the right protections are in place. Natural events like earthquakes, storms, or fires can also cause data to be lost. Regardless of the cause, permanent data loss can have severe and lasting effects on a business.
7. Insider Threats
Insiders are individuals within an organization, including employees, contractors, interns, and other staff members. A malicious insider may misuse their access privileges, potentially harming the organization’s data. Cloud-based services often give insiders broader access, especially in companies that rely heavily on cloud providers for security. A cloud security assessment plays an important role here by helping you uncover insider threats and spot unusual access behaviors before they become serious risks. Sometimes, the intent isn’t malicious – just a mistake. For example, an employee might accidentally upload sensitive information to a public repository. Others, often called Phantom ITs, may start using cloud services without telling the IT team, which can lead to unexpected security issues.
How does LMNTRIX Cloud Security Assessment Mitigate these Risks?  Â
At LMNTRIX, we understand the growing complexity of cloud environments and the unique risks they bring. Our cloud security assessment service is designed to help organizations uncover hidden vulnerabilities, strengthen cloud configurations, and ensure continuous protection against both internal and external threats.
Here, we help you:
- Identify misconfigurations and access risks across your cloud infrastructure, which are often overlooked but can lead to major security breaches.
- Assess identity and access management (IAM) policies to ensure users, roles, and permissions are aligned with the principle of least privilege.
- Evaluate your current data protection strategies, including encryption and key management, to safeguard sensitive data from loss or unauthorized access.
- Uncover signs of insider threats or shadow IT, reducing risks caused by employees who unintentionally or deliberately bypass security protocols.
- Review logging and monitoring capabilities to ensure that any suspicious activity is quickly detected and addressed.
- Ensure compliance with industry regulations and cloud security standards, avoiding costly penalties and data exposure.
Our team provides clear, actionable insights tailored to your business needs, giving you the confidence to operate securely in the cloud. LMNTRIX empowers you to take control of your cloud environment before threats take control of you.
Conclusion
Effective data security begins with a proactive mindset. To truly protect your business, it’s essential to take deliberate steps to secure your critical data—especially in the cloud.
Whether you’re just starting to evaluate your cloud security or looking to strengthen your existing defenses, you’ve come to the right place. At LMNTRIX, our cloud security assessment service provides full visibility into your cloud environment, helping you safeguard your data and applications with confidence.Our team of experts is ready to support you every step of the way. Schedule your free cloud risk consultation today—and take the first step toward a more secure future.
