Cloud Information Security: How to Stay Secure in a Borderless Environment

By 2028, global spending on cloud services is expected to surpass $1 trillion, as organisations continue to migrate data, applications, and workloads to the cloud. While this shift offers efficiency and scalability, it also creates new blind spots for attackers to exploit.

As businesses move their critical operations to distributed and hybrid cloud environments, cloud information security has become a top priority. Without strong visibility, control, and compliance, organisations risk data exposure, regulatory fines, and reputational damage.

In this article, we’ll explore what cloud computing is, the implications for cyber security, and how RMI’s GARi external attack surface management platform provides unified protection and visibility in this borderless environment.

What is cloud computing?

Cloud computing allows businesses to store, process, and manage data over the internet through remote servers. It offers scalable, on-demand access to databases and software without the need for physical hardware.

There are three main types of cloud services:

• Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): Provides virtualised hardware and network resources.

• Platform as a Service (PaaS): Delivers development and deployment environments for applications.

• Software as a Service (SaaS): Gives users access to applications hosted and maintained by providers.

Cloud computing became popular because it supports hybrid working and reduces capital expenditure. However, with convenience comes complexity, especially when it comes to data protection and cyber security compliance.

What are the implications of cloud computing?

The benefits of cloud adoption are undeniable, but so are the risks. Each connected service, device, and API expands your attack surface, making it harder to maintain control. Below are some key implications for businesses in terms of cloud security and risk exposure.

Increased attack surface exposure

Every application and endpoint linked to the cloud environment is a potential entry point for attackers. Misconfigured databases, exposed APIs, and outdated credentials all create vulnerabilities. Without a dedicated network intrusion detection system and continuous visibility, these weaknesses often go unnoticed.

Shared responsibility confusion

Cloud providers secure the infrastructure, but customers (businesses) are responsible for their own data, such as:

• Managing who has access (user accounts, passwords, MFA, permissions)

• Securing data (encryption, backups, privacy settings)

• Configuring the services correctly 

• Monitoring activity and applying updates to cloud-based apps

Many organisations fail to recognise this shared responsibility model, leading to gaps in cyber security monitoring and accountability.

Data breaches and insider threats

Sensitive information such as financial records, client data, or intellectual property often resides in shared cloud environments. Weak password policies or compromised credentials can allow malicious insiders or external hackers to exfiltrate data unnoticed.

Compliance and monitoring challenges

Ensuring cybersecurity compliance across multiple cloud platforms requires careful coordination. While standards like ISO 27001 and SOC 2 have distinct requirements, modern compliance tools and cloud-native features can help organisations maintain regulatory alignment and streamline audits.

Complexity and lack of visibility

As organisations adopt hybrid and multi-cloud architectures, visibility becomes fragmented. Each platform generates its own logs, alerts, and metrics, creating information silos that hinder quick threat detection and coordinated response. While there are attack surface management platforms that address this issue, GARi goes further by delivering unified, continuous visibility across on-premises and cloud environments in real time.

 How GARi external attack surface management solves this challenge

RMI’s external attack surface management platform, GARi, eliminates these visibility silos by consolidating data from all cloud and on-premise environments into a single, unified dashboard. 

Instead of juggling multiple vendor tools and disconnected alerts, security teams can monitor their entire hybrid and multi-cloud infrastructure in one place. GARi automatically correlates logs, metrics, and threat indicators, providing full-spectrum visibility, faster detection, and a coordinated response to emerging cyber attacks.

How can hackers infiltrate a cloud?

Cyber attackers use several methods to compromise cloud environments:

• Phishing and credential theft: Employees tricked into revealing login details can grant attackers direct access.

• Exploiting APIs: Poorly secured APIs can expose sensitive data or allow lateral movement within a network.

• Ransomware in the cloud: Attackers can encrypt shared files, disrupt services, and demand payment.

Once inside, hackers can exfiltrate data, move laterally through connected systems, and even deploy persistent malware that evades traditional defences. This is why cloud information security must extend beyond reactive measures to continuous, proactive monitoring.

Learn more: What is a Botnet? And How to Protect Your Business

What is cloud information security?

Cloud information security refers to the technologies and practices that protect cloud-hosted data, applications, and infrastructure from unauthorised access and cyber attacks.

It combines cloud security policies, encryption, identity management, and network intrusion detection systems to ensure confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information. A strong cloud security posture enables businesses to operate confidently across multi-cloud environments.

Why is cloud information security important?

In a world where digital boundaries no longer exist, data protection is a business imperative. Breaches cause financial losses and erode customer trust, and can lead to regulatory penalties.

Cyber threats have become increasingly targeted and automated. Attackers now use AI-powered tools to identify vulnerabilities faster than humans can patch them. Without effective cloud security monitoring, businesses struggle to detect these intrusions in time. 

While many solutions can tackle attacks like these, GARi provides a truly comprehensive and intelligent approach. GARi combines continuous asset discovery, automated vulnerability scanning, dark web intelligence, and human risk management into one unified platform. This gives organisations full visibility and proactive control over their entire attack surface.

The challenges of security

Even with advanced tools, maintaining a consistent level of cyber security and risk management across multiple cloud environments remains a challenge.

Visibility gaps

Lack of unified dashboards or asset inventories leaves unknown assets unprotected. As organisations adopt hybrid and multi-cloud architectures, visibility becomes fragmented. Each platform generates its own logs, alerts, and metrics, creating information silos that hinder quick threat detection and coordinated response.

Manual processes

Human error remains a leading cause of cloud misconfigurations and data exposure. Teams can struggle to maintain consistent security baselines and often overlook risky settings or outdated policies. GARi automates monitoring and compliance checks, reducing the manual workload and minimising the potential for human mistakes.

Fragmented tools

Using multiple point solutions across different cloud providers increases complexity, costs, and blind spots which can leave you vulnerable. GARi simplifies this by integrating threat intelligence, vulnerability management, and compliance tracking into a single platform, reducing tool sprawl and enabling a holistic approach to cloud information security.

Evolving compliance requirements

Keeping up with changing data governance and cyber security compliance laws across regions is resource-intensive. GARi continuously maps your cloud environment against relevant frameworks such as ISO 27001, automatically flagging any compliance drift so businesses can act before audit deadlines.

How can businesses protect cloud data?

To effectively safeguard cloud environments, organisations need an intelligent, unified platform that combines visibility, automation, and cyber threat intelligence. The goal is to achieve full awareness of all assets, configurations, and activities across both on-premise and cloud systems, supported by continuous monitoring and rapid response capabilities.

Unified attack surface visibility

Businesses should maintain a real-time inventory of all external and cloud assets to reduce blind spots. Mapping your attack surface allows security teams to identify misconfigurations, unsecured APIs, or unknown endpoints before attackers exploit them.

Continuous monitoring and compliance

Effective cloud information security relies on constant oversight. Automated monitoring ensures that every configuration change, user access update, or policy deviation is tracked in real time. This supports ongoing alignment with cyber security compliance frameworks such as ISO 27001and NIST.

Threat intelligence and data protection

Integrating threat intelligence software, dark web monitoring tools, and network intrusion detection systems provides early warning of breaches or leaks. These tools enhance data protection by detecting stolen credentials, any suspicious logins, and even exposed sensitive data.

Automated risk prioritisation

Automation helps teams distinguish between critical and low-impact vulnerabilities. Risk-based prioritisation ensures resources are directed where they will have the greatest effect, reducing exposure and improving operational efficiency.

Rapid threat detection and response

Correlating cloud events, indicators of compromise, and user behaviour analytics allows for real-time threat detection. This approach reduces both mean time to detect and mean time to resolve, helping to contain incidents before they escalate.

Collaboration and reporting

Cloud security should be transparent and accessible to all stakeholders. Centralised dashboards and reports allow IT, compliance, and leadership teams to share visibility, demonstrate governance, and make informed decisions backed by accurate data.

FAQs: Cloud Information Security

1. What are the biggest cloud information security risks businesses face today?

Modern businesses face risks such as data breaches, misconfigurations, credential theft, insider threats, and insecure APIs. These issues can expose sensitive data and weaken compliance posture if not continuously monitored.

2. How does attack surface management improve cloud security?

Attack surface management provides full visibility of all external assets and cloud services, helping organisations detect and fix vulnerabilities before attackers exploit them. It’s a proactive layer of cloud security monitoring that strengthens data protection.

3. Why do businesses need continuous monitoring and compliance in the cloud?

Cloud environments change constantly. Continuous monitoring and compliance ensures that every configuration, access control, and policy remains aligned with evolving cyber security compliance standards such as ISO 27001.

4. How can cybersecurity companies help protect hybrid and multi-cloud environments?

Leading cybersecurity companies provide visibility, automation, and intelligence tools that monitor assets across multiple providers. Platforms like GARi consolidate this data, helping businesses quickly identify risks and maintain consistent cloud information security.

5. What steps should an organisation take to strengthen cloud information security?

Organisations should start by mapping their attack surface, encrypting sensitive data, enforcing multi-factor authentication, deploying network intrusion detection systems, and using unified monitoring platforms to maintain full-time visibility and control.

How GARi external attack surface management by RMI Cyber strengthens cloud information security

RMI Cyber’s external attack surface management platform, GARi, is designed to give organisations full visibility and control over their digital ecosystem. By continuously mapping, monitoring, and prioritising vulnerabilities across cloud and on-premise environments, GARi transforms how businesses manage their cloud information security posture.

Continuous external attack surface visibility

GARi constantly scans an organisation’s public-facing assets, APIs, and cloud environments to uncover hidden or unknown exposures. This ensures that every endpoint, subdomain, and misconfigured service is detected and assessed. This gives security teams a complete picture of their attack surface before threat actors can exploit it.

Integrated threat intelligence and monitoring

Through built-in threat intelligence software and network intrusion detection systems, GARi analyses indicators of compromise, leaked credentials, and dark web activity to identify potential cyber attacks early. This intelligence enables proactive remediation and strengthens long-term data protection strategies.

Automated monitoring and compliance

GARi automates monitoring and compliance for cloud-based assets, ensuring continuous alignment with leading cyber security compliance frameworks such as ISO 27001. This reduces manual workloads and allows teams to demonstrate governance and accountability at all times.

Risk prioritisation and remediation insight

Not every vulnerability carries the same level of risk. GARi’s analytics evaluate severity, exploitability, and business impact. This supports security teams prioritising what matters most. This risk-based approach accelerates response and reduces exposure across hybrid and multi-cloud environments.

Unified data protection and reporting

With real-time dashboards and executive-level reporting, GARi provides transparent insights into overall cloud security health. This unified perspective enhances collaboration between IT, compliance, and leadership, turning visibility into action and protecting the organisation’s most valuable asset: its data.

Take control of your cloud security. Contact RMI Cyber today or sign up to the GARi platform to strengthen your cloud information security and reduce cyber risk across your organisation.