Serverless computing is an efficient cloud-based model that is gaining popularity.
This model provides an affordable and scalable solution for most businesses, even more so if they want to streamline their existing operations strategies.
However, serverless computing also comes with security concerns. This model eliminates the need for businesses to manage infrastructure. With this convenience comes the risk of unique security breaches.
Insecure Application Programming Interfaces
Serverless applications rely on APIs to communicate between services. Sometimes, these APIs are not properly secured.
In this scenario, they become easy targets for cyber attackers. These hackers can exploit the APIs’ vulnerabilities to access sensitive data.
How to Prevent API Breaches
It is possible to prevent these types of breaches. You can use strong authentication measures to control access strictly. Authentication strategies usually include OAuth or API keys.
You can also encrypt API traffic using HTTPS and TLS encryption. Doing this will secure your business data while in transit.
It is important to set up logging and monitoring tools as well. These tools can help you detect unusual API requests, preventing a breach.
Function Event Data Injection
Events trigger serverless functions. These include database updates, HTTP requests, and file uploads. If a system is unprotected, a hacker can manipulate these events.
They can also add malicious code to the system. This will make it easy for them to access or steal data.
You must validate all inputs to prevent hackers from stealing your business data. You can use several validation techniques to filter out any harmful data.
You can also set up web application firewalls (WAFs). A WAF can detect and block malicious payloads. They can do this before they reach the serverless function.
Lastly, you should implement least privilege access. This means limiting what each function can access. This can help reduce potential damage in case of a breach.
Weak Identity and Access Management
Serverless applications involve multiple functions. These include databases and third-party services. This means a lot of access for a lot of different people. If permissions are too broad, the entire access system will be weak.
If an attacker gains access to one function, they may be able to gain control of the entire system.
How to Mitigate Risks
The best way to mitigate the risk is to follow the principle of least privilege, as mentioned. This means granting only the necessary permissions for each function.
You can also use role-based access control. Essentially, you would assign roles based on employee responsibilities. This will allow you to restrict access where necessary.
If you want to add an extra layer of security, enable multi-factor authentication. This will help protect the process of cloud resource access.
Lack of Visibility and Monitoring
Serverless functions run on cloud providers’ infrastructure. This means your business has limited visibility into the execution. This makes it difficult to detect and respond to security threats in real-time.
How to Improve this Process
The first thing to do is enable logging and monitoring. Use cloud-native tools to track function activity every day.
You should also implement security information and event management solutions. These tools can help alert you to security incidents, allowing you to respond faster.
You can set up alerts for unusual behavior. This can include anything from unexpected or strange API calls to unauthorized access attempts.
Denial-of-Service (DoS) Attacks
Your serverless applications scale automatically when demand increases. This is a fantastic benefit to your business in the growing or expanding stage.
Unfortunately, attackers can also exploit this feature. They could flood the system with requests on purpose. This can lead to resource exhaustion and extra expenses.
How to Avoid This
It is fairly easy to stop this from happening. You can use the WAFs above to filter out malicious traffic before it reaches the serverless functions.
You can also set limits on the number of requests per user. This is the most straightforward way to prevent intentional abuse.
Remember to keep track of unexpected spikes in usage. This will help you identify potential DoS attacks.
Third-Party Dependences and Supply Chain Risks
Serverless applications may also rely on third-party libraries or dependencies. These may already be weak or contain vulnerabilities that hackers can easily exploit.
Preventing Exploitation
The best way to prevent exploitation is to update dependencies regularly. If you keep third-party packages and frameworks up to date, it can help fix security weaknesses.
Only download libraries from reputable sources. Doing this will reduce the risk of malicious code.
You should also use appropriate tools to conduct security audits. You can use several reputable tools to scan dependencies for known vulnerabilities.
Data Security and Compliance Issues
Your business can use serverless applications to process and store sensitive data. However, if you do not protect this data properly, you expose it to the wrong users. This can result in compliance violations.
How to Protect Data
You must encrypt sensitive data at rest and in transit. Encryption is a suitable strategy to prevent unauthorized access.
You must also follow compliance standards for all business data. Depending on your industry, you must follow GDPR, HIPAA, SOC 2 regulations, etc.
Other techniques that will help protect data include masking and tokenization. It essentially replaces the information with non-sensitive equivalents.
Cold Start Delays and Security Risks
If you haven’t used some serverless functions for a while, they take longer to start. This could lead to performance issues. Attackers are always looking for this delay to execute a timing-based attack.
How to Stop Attacks
You should use provisioned concurrency to keep all critical functions ready to run on startup. You must also implement security-focused controls to prevent any type of timing-based attack.
Track the function execution times regularly to identify potential security issues.
Serverless Computing Challenges Can Be Mitigated
If you understand the risks of serverless computing, it will be easier for you to implement strong security practices.
This way, you can enjoy all the benefits of serverless computing while keeping your business applications and data secure.
Following best practices, as explained above, you can continuously reduce vulnerabilities. This will ensure that your serverless applications remain resilient even as cyber attackers launch sophisticated attacks.
