The Critical Role of Identity-Based Behavior Tracking in Cloud Security
By Abhishek Singh, CEO, Araali Networks
According to O’Reilly Media’s recent cloud adoption report, 48% of surveyed organizations plan to move half or more of their applications to the cloud by 2022, with cloud usage now reaching 90%. Many companies are migrating under a misconception: that moving from on-premise to the cloud inherently enhances security. However, cybercriminals are following this shift, with ransomware attacks on cloud storage devices rising by 105% in 2021 alone. Fortunately, there is a method to protect cloud applications effectively—employing identity-based behavior tracking and applying the principle of least privilege, which is essential for securing cloud environments.
Why Identity is Essential in Modern Security Models
It’s impossible to imagine robust security without identity as a foundation. Identity verification has evolved from basic logins to multi-factor authentication (MFA) and passwordless access, but inter-application access has often been overlooked, remaining vulnerable and relying on outdated protection measures. The traditional approach trusted network perimeters, reinforcing them with firewalls to protect sensitive data. Even though users have shifted to MFA, many applications still rely on passwords—a known weak link susceptible to theft and compromise.
Backdoors: The Persistent Vulnerability in Cybersecurity
In both physical and digital heists, attackers need an escape route. For hackers, that route is a backdoor, which bypasses typical security protocols. Backdoors, originally meant for legitimate maintenance or management tasks, are exploited by attackers to connect to command-and-control centers, inject malicious code, and exfiltrate data. While cloud infrastructure offers passwordless options through Identity and Access Management (IAM), an application compromise still grants attackers a path for data breaches, rendering IAM’s protection limited to cloud resources alone.
Firewalls also struggle in cloud environments due to the dynamic, temporary nature of applications. Cloud-based apps constantly shift their network addresses, complicating network-based security approaches.
Closing Backdoors with Identity-Driven Protections
Cybersecurity teams continually add tools to prevent attacks, yet human errors and misconfigurations still account for 95% of breaches. Even minor cloud configuration errors can open doors to attackers. Picture an army defending land from an invader at sea—the best chance to stop the enemy is when they first arrive. Similarly, the most vulnerable point in cloud security is the backdoor. By blocking backdoor connections, organizations effectively cut off attack attempts.
Cloud applications typically operate with predefined, predictable behaviors. Identifying these behaviors to establish a baseline “identity” for each application, then restricting actions outside that norm, is key. Embedding controls directly within the app itself enables access controls at the application boundary, moving security measures closer to the app where identity context is most relevant. This approach provides comprehensive protection—covering both data access and preventing unauthorized egress.
With millions of known malware signatures, each breach has one common tactic: establishing entry and escape routes. An identity-driven security model prevents attackers from leveraging backdoors, representing the next step forward in battling cyber threats. It’s time to shut the door on malicious backdoors and elevate application security in the cloud.
