Cloud Penetration Testing: Cloud Doesn’t mean Secure

I am often faced with questions like- we moved our virtual servers, databases. applications to the public cloud, do we need Penetration testing? My answer each time- Absolutely Yes! In an era where businesses are rapidly migrating to the cloud, the need for robust security measures has never been more critical. For professionals in the cybersecurity field, terms like application penetration testing and network penetration testing are well-known. However, with the rapid growth of the cloud computing industry over the last decade, Cloud Penetration Testing as a service has made a niche for itself.

Why is Cloud Penetration Testing Important?

In traditional penetration testing, the organization conducting the test owns the entire technical infrastructure. In a cloud environment, the cloud service provider (CSP) owns the overall cloud infrastructure. As a user of these services, your ownership extends only to your data stored in the cloud.

Given this distinction, there are several technical, legal, or regulatory challenges to address before starting a penetration test in a cloud environment. The first major challenge is understanding the policies and terms & conditions set by the CSP.

Understand your Security Responsibilities

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS), depending on your engagement with the CSP, your security responsibilities will vary across these three forms:

Before initiating a penetration test, it's important to ask your CSP specific questions based on the type of service you are using. In IaaS, the CSP handles physical security and natural/artificial hazards, while you are responsible for most security-related activities. In PaaS, security responsibilities are shared and defined by a Service Level Agreement (SLA). In SaaS, the CSP takes on most of the security responsibilities.

The shared responsibility model plays a crucial role in effective cloud penetration testing for several reasons:

Precision in Testing:

By clearly understanding the division of responsibilities, organizations can design penetration tests that specifically target areas under their control. This focused approach ensures that testing efforts are efficient and identify vulnerabilities within the organization's sphere of accountability.

Enhanced Overall Security:

The model promotes a collaborative approach between the client and the Cloud Service Provider (CSP). Penetration testing can reveal weaknesses not only in the client's security measures but also in the CSP's infrastructure. This comprehensive view leads to a more robust security posture for the entire cloud environment.

Meeting Regulatory Requirements:

Many regulatory frameworks require organizations to have a clear understanding of their cloud security responsibilities. Conducting penetration tests that align with the shared responsibility model demonstrates a proactive approach to compliance.

Integrating the Shared Model into Penetration Testing Strategies

Step 1: Understand CSP Policies Each CSP has its own policies regarding the use of its cloud infrastructure. One critical policy pertains to penetration testing, which may require you to notify the CSP in advance. Failure to do so could result in your testing activity being mistaken for a DDoS attack, potentially leading to account suspension. Notifying the CSP is also crucial as your testing might affect other clients sharing the same infrastructure. Reviewing the CSP’s penetration testing policy helps you understand your rights, liabilities, and legal requirements.

Step 2: Develop a Penetration Testing Plan A well-prepared penetration testing plan ensures that testing activities are completed within set deadlines. The plan should cover areas such as:

Both your organization and the penetration testing team should agree on the plan. If the penetration test is conducted by a third-party service provider, a legally-binding contract must be signed.

Step 3: Select Appropriate Tools Various tools are available for penetration testing. Depending on your requirements and budget, you can choose between on-premise tools or cloud-based application security test tools. Scout Suite, Pacu, Metasploit, Burp Suite, Invicti are some of the most common tools used for Cloud Penetration Testing. Selecting the right tool is crucial, as it should simulate real-life attacks on your cloud environment. Additionally, consider combining automated tools with manual testing by security experts.

Step 4: Identify Vulnerabilities and Reporting Finding vulnerabilities is an essential step in penetration testing. A comprehensive penetration testing report will serve as a reference for future security updates. Vulnerabilities should be classified based on the layer they were found, such as network, database, application, or storage. This report forms the foundation for improving your organization’s security posture.

Conclusion

As organizations continue to embrace cloud technologies, the importance of cloud penetration testing cannot be overstated. It serves as a crucial component in a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy, helping businesses identify, understand, and mitigate risks in their cloud infrastructure. Regular assessments are recommended by various regulations to ensure the integrity of an organization’s technical infrastructure.

Hiring an external service provider such as SecPrima for penetration testing can offer an unbiased perspective and thorough assessment, potentially uncovering issues that internal teams might overlook. We go way beyond the limitations of automated scans and leverage manual expertise of our Pen Testers to simulate attacks like a real attacker would. Schedule a call with our certified Cybersecurity professional to learn more about securing your cloud environment.