What do CSOs and other IT security experts expect to be top-of-mind cloud security issues in 2011? Here are five things to watch for in the coming year:

1. Smart phone data slinging. More users will be accessing large amounts of data on the devices of their choice, says Randy Barr, CSO at Qualys Inc. and member of the Cloud Security Alliance (CSA). “This comes with a lot of unaddressed security issues,” Barr says. “We can expect new solutions to address mobile devices, but could see a large data breach to expose the issue of mobile security before we see a solution.” Among the possible scenarios, Barr says, are insecure cloud-based backup and highly confidential data on mobile devices.”There are some interesting inter-dependencies when using multiple cloud services on mobile devices, with possibly different security models and assumptions,” he says. A hacked cloud provider could provide mass access to confidential mobile device data when mobile users are using cloud-based mobile device support, he says. In addition, loss or theft of mobile device could provide root-level access to cloud services and data. Mobile apps are often providing direct and automated access to cloud services and data, he says. If an admin-level person’s mobile device is stolen, this could be a major threat to highly confidential data or even cloud services administered by such a person from an insecure mobile device.

(more…)

Bookmark/Search this post with: