.png?width=300&height=123&name=standard%20(2).png)
Stop Hoping You’re Secure Start Checking
Think your cloud setup is secure? It might not be.
Most UK small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) assume their cloud environments are safe, but statistics paint a different picture:
- 69% of UK SMEs lack a formal cybersecurity policy.
- Nearly half (49%) admit they wouldn't know how to respond to a cyber-attack.
- 62% of cloud misconfigurations stem from a lack of expertise.
This isn’t just about limited resources - it’s about dangerous assumptions. The solution? Regular security checks, proper asset management, and proactive measures to identify and fix vulnerabilities before they’re exploited.
Key steps include:
- Building a detailed inventory of cloud assets.
- Running regular vulnerability scans.
- Tightening configurations to reduce risks.
- Preparing and testing incident response plans.
Session 3 - How to Audit Your Cloud
Understanding Your Cloud Security Position
Your cloud security position acts as a health check, revealing how well-protected your cloud environments are while also pinpointing urgent vulnerabilities.
What Is a Cloud Security Position?
A cloud security position refers to the strategies and tools you use to safeguard your cloud data and applications. For small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), integrating security tools effectively is critical to staying resilient and maintaining trust as you scale your cloud operations. Without a clear understanding of your security position, decisions are often based on guesswork.
Key components of your security position include identity and access management (IAM), encryption protocols, compliance monitoring, workload security, and continuous threat detection. When these elements function cohesively, they allow you to harness the benefits of cloud computing while reducing risks and staying compliant.
Common Risks in Cloud-Native SMB Environments
SMBs face distinct challenges compared to larger enterprises with dedicated security teams. Nearly half of all cyber breaches affect smaller businesses, and in 2021, 61% of SMBs reported being targeted by cyber attacks.
Cloud misconfigurations are among the most common vulnerabilities. These occur when security settings are improperly configured, exposing databases, storage buckets, or applications to the internet. Alarmingly, human error was responsible for 44% of cloud data breaches, underscoring how easily mistakes can happen during rapid growth.
Insecure APIs represent another significant risk. SMBs often rely heavily on APIs to connect services when building cloud-native applications. Without proper safeguards, these APIs can become gateways for attackers aiming to access sensitive data or disrupt operations.
Shadow IT - when employees use unauthorised cloud services - creates blind spots in your security position. This lack of oversight makes it nearly impossible to enforce consistent security policies across all resources.
Poor access management is another frequent issue for growing businesses. As teams expand, access controls often fail to keep up, leaving employees with more permissions than they need. This violates the principle of least privilege and increases the risk of insider threats or compromised accounts.
The threat landscape is constantly shifting. Intrusions into cloud environments surged by 75% in 2023, and the CrowdStrike 2024 Global Threat Report revealed a 110% rise in incidents involving cloud-savvy attackers. Addressing these risks starts with creating a clear and automated inventory of your assets.
Building a Clear Asset Inventory
To tackle these vulnerabilities, the first step is establishing a complete and accurate inventory of your cloud assets. A robust asset inventory is the foundation of effective security management. As one expert put it:
"You cannot secure that which you don't even know exists." - ITEGRITI
Cloud asset management involves identifying, tracking, and managing all resources tied to your cloud infrastructure, both physical and virtual. For SMBs, this means cataloguing everything from virtual machines and databases to serverless functions and third-party integrations across all cloud providers.
Keeping your asset inventory up to date is essential for managing compliance and minimising cyber risks. Without clear visibility, it’s impossible to determine which assets are vulnerable, misconfigured, or unauthorised. This lack of insight becomes especially risky as your business scales and new resources are deployed frequently.
Automation plays a critical role in managing these assets effectively. Manual tracking simply can’t keep up with the fast-paced, ever-changing nature of cloud environments, where resources are constantly being created, modified, or removed.
Your inventory should encompass both Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) and Platform as a Service (PaaS) resources. This includes virtual machines, containers, databases, storage buckets, load balancers, and any managed services in use. Consistent tagging of these assets is vital for organisation and categorisation.
A detailed asset inventory not only highlights vulnerabilities but also flags unauthorised resources. Knowing exactly what you have allows you to identify anomalies, such as unexpected resources or misconfigurations, and take corrective action before they escalate into security incidents.
Beyond improving security, cloud asset management enhances visibility, reduces costs, and simplifies operations. With a clear understanding of your cloud footprint, you can make smarter decisions about resource allocation, find cost-saving opportunities, and ensure consistent security practices across all environments.
Regular updates to your asset inventory are non-negotiable. Cloud environments are dynamic, and your inventory must reflect these changes in real time to remain effective. Businesses using continuous monitoring systems are able to detect and prevent 85% of SMB-targeted attacks early, proving the importance of maintaining up-to-date visibility into your cloud assets.
Steps to Secure and Monitor Your Cloud
Taking a systematic approach to cloud security can help small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) protect their environments without stretching their resources too thin. Here’s a practical framework to strengthen your cloud security.
Step 1: Discover and Classify Your Assets
Start by creating a detailed inventory of all your assets. Asset discovery plays a crucial role in cloud security, and having a well-maintained Configuration Management Database (CMDB) can make a huge difference. In fact, organisations with updated CMDBs can cut incident resolution times by up to 40% and save an average of 15 hours per week on IT management tasks.
Compile all your asset data into one centralised system. This should include everything from virtual machines and databases to serverless functions and API endpoints. Assign unique identifiers to each asset for precise tracking.
Standardise naming conventions and categorise your assets into groups like hardware, software, and cloud services. Begin with your core applications and infrastructure. For each asset, document its name, location, purpose, specifications, and ownership. Visual diagrams showing how these systems interact can also be incredibly helpful for planning your security measures.
"The single source of truth for your IT estate." – ALVAO
Use automated tools to keep your inventory updated in real time, especially in dynamic cloud environments. Focus on your most critical assets first, and schedule regular reviews. Don’t forget to train your team on proper data entry and verification practices.
Step 2: Run Regular Vulnerability Scans
Vulnerability scanning is essential for identifying weak spots before attackers can exploit them. It also helps you stay compliant and demonstrate that you’re taking security seriously.
Choose tools that offer simple, dashboard-based interfaces to make it easier to spot and address vulnerabilities. Look for scanners that provide details about the location, nature, and severity of threats. Automation is key - opt for tools that continuously monitor your systems and update their threat databases automatically. Cloud-based scanners are often a good fit for dynamic environments as they require less maintenance.
If your internal resources are limited, consider outsourcing to a vulnerability-management-as-a-service (VMaaS) provider or partnering with a managed service provider (MSP) or managed security service provider (MSSP). Some tools offer free tiers, but make sure these provide enough coverage for your specific needs and integrate smoothly with your existing workflows.
Step 3: Review and Harden Configurations
Once you’ve identified vulnerabilities, focus on tightening your configurations to close security gaps. Regularly updating and assessing your cloud configurations can prevent many potential issues. Automate checks for common misconfigurations, such as open storage buckets or overly permissive access settings, and flag any deviations immediately.
Limit public access to critical assets like storage buckets, databases, and virtual machines, ensuring only authorised users have access. Implement network security measures such as private endpoints and firewall rules that only allow traffic from trusted IP addresses. Make it a habit to review and update configurations whenever new services or changes are introduced, so security remains part of your deployment process.
For APIs, enforce strong authentication and authorisation protocols, routinely review settings, and monitor access logs for unusual activity. Use tools that provide centralised visibility to manage security across multiple cloud providers, ensuring a consistent approach in hybrid or multi-cloud environments.
Step 4: Plan and Test Incident Response
Even with strong preventive measures, incidents can still occur. Having a clear incident response plan ensures your team can act quickly to minimise damage and recover efficiently. Your plan should outline roles, responsibilities, and escalation procedures, as well as how to communicate with stakeholders during an incident.
Audit your systems regularly to ensure both technical defences and human processes hold up under pressure. Create runbooks with step-by-step instructions for handling common incidents, and update them based on lessons learned from previous events. Conduct tabletop exercises and simulations to prepare your team for high-stress situations.
Segment your networks to limit the spread of potential breaches, and eliminate common vulnerabilities by removing default credentials and deactivating unused accounts. After each incident, document everything - timelines, actions taken, and lessons learned. This not only helps refine your response plan but also supports compliance efforts.
Finally, establish relationships with external security experts or incident response services so you can call on them for help if needed. Align your practices with CIS Benchmarks to ensure you meet industry standards.
Tools and Services for Cloud Security Verification
Once you've implemented security measures, the next step is maintaining a vigilant approach. This is where combining automated tools with expert oversight becomes essential for continuously assessing and improving your cloud security.
Automated Security Tools for SMBs
Cloud security tools have come a long way, offering solutions tailored to the needs of smaller organisations. These tools prioritise risks using advanced contextual assessments and agentless scanning, making them user-friendly and effective.
One standout category is SaaS Security Posture Management (SSPM) tools. Unlike traditional tools that focus on networks or devices, SSPM targets cloud environments. These tools continuously monitor SaaS application configurations, flagging misaligned permissions and identifying risky combinations of settings that could lead to vulnerabilities.
Another key option is Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM) tools. These platforms detect and address misconfigurations across various cloud services, including hybrid and multi-cloud environments. They offer visibility into containers, virtual machines, serverless functions, and APIs, helping to uncover issues like identity misuse, data leaks, and vulnerabilities from third-party integrations.
For SMBs on a budget, there are affordable vulnerability management tools available. CloudSploit offers cloud security scanning for just £7.17 per month, while Coro Cybersecurity provides comprehensive protection at £8.99 per user per month. If compliance monitoring is your focus, Policy Monitor's Cyber Security Policy Monitor is available at only £1.00 per user per month.
These tools are invaluable for providing real-time insights into configuration and permission risks. This is especially critical when considering that 39% of organisations globally have faced data breaches in their cloud environments. While automation handles many checks effectively, combining these tools with expert human oversight can elevate your security strategy even further.
Benefits of Expert Partner Support
While automated tools are powerful, integrating professional expertise adds an extra layer of protection. This hybrid approach is particularly important given that cybercrime costs are projected to hit nearly £8.2 trillion annually by 2025. For many SMBs, professional support offers a cost-effective way to strengthen defences.
Expert partners can provide rapid response capabilities, which are often beyond the reach of smaller organisations. This reduces response times and minimises damage during incidents – a critical factor, especially as 63% of businesses have reported breaches related to remote work.
In addition to incident response, professional services can assist with compliance readiness. Navigating frameworks like ISO 27001, SOC 2, or guidance from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) becomes more manageable without the need to hire full-time compliance staff.
Another advantage is access to senior-level security expertise on demand. This allows SMBs to undertake advanced projects, such as implementing policy-as-code (PaC) to maintain consistent security policies across multi-cloud and hybrid environments. Such initiatives ensure scalability and consistency as your organisation grows.
Ultimately, expert oversight complements automated tools, aligning daily operations with both strategic and tactical security goals.
Adding Tools to Your Daily Workflow
To maximise the impact of your security tools, they must integrate seamlessly into your existing workflows. The goal is to make security checks a natural part of daily operations, not an added burden.
Continuous compliance monitoring is key, offering real-time insights into potential violations while minimising disruptions to productivity. Automation can handle tasks like user access reviews and configuration scans, reducing manual effort while maintaining oversight.
Clear dashboards are essential for efficient remediation. These should provide actionable insights without requiring advanced security expertise. Look for tools that integrate with your existing systems, such as SIEM platforms, IT ticketing tools, and endpoint security solutions.
Implementing multi-factor authentication (MFA) is another priority, as it can prevent over 99.9% of account compromise attacks. This is especially crucial with phishing attacks surging by 80% during the remote-work era.
When selecting tools, consider your team's privacy expectations and compliance needs. For UK businesses, it's important to ensure solutions support data localisation and align with NCSC guidance, including standards like Cyber Essentials.
Finally, embedding security controls into your CI/CD workflows can help identify and address vulnerabilities early in the development process, before they reach production. Regularly reviewing the effectiveness of your security tools will ensure they continue to meet your organisation's needs as it evolves.
sbb-itb-424a2ff
Common Vulnerabilities and How to Fix Them
With the rise in cyber threats, continuous verification has become a must for SMBs operating in the cloud. The numbers tell a worrying story: in 2024, 61% of SMBs reported major cloud breaches, a sharp increase from 24% in 2023. This jump highlights the growing sophistication of attacks targeting smaller businesses, many of which lack dedicated security teams.
Typical Vulnerabilities in SMB Cloud Environments
Misconfigured cloud settings are a common issue, leaving databases and applications exposed without proper authentication. Human error accounts for 82% of these missteps, contributing to 23% of cloud-related incidents.
Phishing and social engineering attacks continue to exploit the human element. Around 25% of employees in SMBs have been found to click on phishing emails, often due to juggling multiple roles and lacking thorough security training.
Insecure APIs are a significant risk for SaaS companies, especially those building integrations with third-party services. Attackers can exploit weak APIs to access data or manipulate services, with 38% of SaaS apps reportedly targeted.
Insider threats are another challenge. SMBs often operate on informal trust and poorly managed access controls, increasing the risk of unauthorised data exposure.
Ransomware attacks are increasingly aimed at SMBs, as attackers know smaller organisations often lack robust backups or incident response plans. Alarmingly, 75% of SMBs would struggle to recover from such an attack.
Supply chain attacks are growing too. SMBs’ dependence on third-party vendors creates multiple entry points for malware, often through trusted but compromised vendor relationships.
Let’s dive into practical steps to address these vulnerabilities.
How to Fix Each Vulnerability
Fix misconfigurations by blending automated and manual audits. Tools like AWS Config or Microsoft Defender for Cloud can continuously monitor settings, while scheduled manual checks catch issues automation might miss. To prevent missteps, adopt a secure-by-default approach and apply the principle of least privilege when assigning access rights. Automating compliance checks can help stop small errors from escalating.
Defend against phishing with mandatory security training and simulated phishing campaigns. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) adds an extra layer of protection, while secure email gateways with real-time link scanning can block threats before they reach employees.
"Technology can't protect you if your people can't spot a phish. I've seen million-dollar security stacks undone by one bad click. Train your team - especially in SMBs."
- Mark Green, Vice President of IT
Protect APIs by designing them securely from the start. Use API gateways, firewalls, and strong encryption to keep them safe. Behaviour analytics and robust logging can help detect unusual activity, while regular security testing should be a non-negotiable part of the development process.
Address insider threats by implementing role-based access control (RBAC) and monitoring user behaviour. Clear policies, enforceable consequences, and timely removal of unused accounts during offboarding are essential. Regularly reviewing access permissions ensures they remain appropriate.
Minimise ransomware risks by maintaining immutable, off-site backups and deploying endpoint detection and response (EDR) systems. Running regular drills and adopting a Zero Trust Architecture can further reduce attack surfaces.
Strengthen supply chain security by conducting thorough assessments of third-party risks. Limit vendor access to only what’s necessary, monitor access logs, and request evidence of cybersecurity practices, such as SOC 2 or ISO 27001 certifications.
While automation can save businesses an estimated £1.76 million, it’s not the only solution. A hybrid approach works best for SMBs: automated tools for continuous monitoring, expert support for incident response, and manual testing for high-risk areas.
"Cybercriminals aren't checking your employee count before launching an attack. Most threats today are automated and opportunistic. They're scanning for vulnerabilities, not researching your revenue."
- Mark Green, Vice President of IT
Tailor your verification methods to the specific vulnerabilities you face. Start with automated tools for wide coverage, then layer in expert support for critical areas requiring human insight and quick action.
Conclusion: Making Security Checks a Habit
Key Takeaways for SMBs
Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in the UK need to move away from relying on assumptions and instead adopt a strategy of continuous security verification. With 73% of SMBs experiencing a data breach in the past year and 82% of ransomware attacks targeting small businesses due to limited resources, the stakes have never been higher.
The solution lies in ongoing verification, not just one-time security audits. Start by thoroughly understanding your cloud environment and implementing multi-factor authentication (MFA) across all accounts. As Fawaz Naser, CEO at Softlist, explains:
"The basic principle is 'Start Secure and Stay Secure' during the whole cloud migration journey. Starting secure means making sure everything is properly hardened before launching and staying secure involves following good practices for managing changes and configurations."
Regular audits should become a routine part of your operations, not an annual formality. Combining automated tools for continuous monitoring, expert support for incident response, and manual testing for high-risk areas offers a balanced approach. This is especially important as by 2025, 30% of SMBs will migrate half of their key workloads to the cloud, making robust security practices essential.
While technology plays a key role, cultivating a security-conscious mindset across your team is just as important.
Building a Strong Security Culture
Technical defences are critical, but without a strong security culture, your organisation remains vulnerable. Alarmingly, 74% of breaches involve human factors, yet 60% of employees either don’t think or aren’t sure they’re responsible for protecting their organisation.
Ongoing training is a powerful tool to build awareness and resilience. Regular sessions can educate employees on the risks and best practices in cloud security. This is especially important given that 96% of employees who engaged in risky behaviour were aware their actions were dangerous.
Leadership must also set the tone. Security should be woven into business strategies and decision-making. When founders and CTOs actively promote cybersecurity initiatives, it sends a clear message that security is a shared responsibility, not just something for the IT department.
Chris Doman, Co-Founder and CTO at Cado Security, highlights practical steps:
"Enforcing MFA across all accounts helps prevent phishing attacks, and using IAM roles instead of IAM users helps prevent misconfigured IAM credentials. For example, tools such as AWS access advisor can scope down IAM permissions semi-automatically."
Developing a disaster recovery plan and conducting regular security audits are essential to ensure existing measures remain effective. Implement clear incident response protocols and continuous monitoring to keep configurations and patches up to date.
For SMBs without dedicated security teams, services like Critical Cloud's Secure Ops and Compliance Pack offer valuable support. These services help businesses maintain security standards without overwhelming internal resources. The goal isn’t to achieve perfection but to create systems that can detect, respond to, and recover from security incidents with resilience.
Larry Zorio from Mark43 offers this advice:
"Users need to demand better standards, full stop. If you have the luxury of working for a company, push your vendors for strong encryption and other security best practices. Ensure they are following a framework. Ask for evidence like a SOC2 Audit, ISO Certification or FedRAMP Authorization."
FAQs
What are the biggest cloud security mistakes small and medium businesses make, and how can they prevent them?
Many small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) often stumble into avoidable cloud security pitfalls. Common issues include weak password policies, misconfigured cloud settings, and placing too much trust in cloud providers without adding extra layers of protection. Fortunately, these challenges can be addressed with a few proactive measures:
- Implement strong, unique passwords for all accounts and enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) to add an extra layer of security.
- Conduct regular checks on your cloud configurations to ensure they’re properly secured and free from vulnerabilities.
- Develop and enforce security policies that prioritise data encryption and secure communication practices, aligned with UK-specific guidelines.
On top of these technical measures, it’s crucial to invest in staff training to boost awareness of potential security threats. Tools like Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM) can also be a game-changer, helping to spot and address security gaps before they become a problem. By adopting these strategies, SMBs can better protect their systems and data while staying ahead of potential risks.
How can small businesses manage cloud security effectively with limited resources?
Small businesses can tackle cloud security challenges by using affordable tools that automate the process of identifying misconfigurations and vulnerabilities in their cloud systems. Automation takes the pressure off manual efforts, enabling businesses to uphold security and compliance standards without requiring a full-scale security team.
Key steps include conducting regular security audits, following recommended cloud configuration practices, and focusing on addressing critical risks first. These actions help reduce potential weaknesses while keeping costs manageable. With a smart plan, even resource-strapped teams can strengthen their cloud security effectively.
How can automated tools and expert support help SMBs strengthen their cloud security?
Why Automated Tools and Expert Support Matter for SMBs
For small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), keeping cloud security in check can be a daunting task. This is where automated tools and expert support come into play, working hand in hand to strengthen security efforts.
Automation plays a crucial role by spotting threats early, keeping an eye on systems around the clock, and enabling swift responses to incidents. By doing so, it reduces the strain on limited internal resources and cuts down the chances of human error slipping through the cracks.
On the other side, expert support adds a personal touch by offering customised advice on building security frameworks, tackling vulnerabilities, and staying compliant with regulations. This is especially helpful for SMBs that lack dedicated security teams.
Together, these tools and expertise allow businesses to close security loopholes, safeguard sensitive data, and maintain the trust of their customers. It’s a smart, balanced approach to modern cloud security.