A report from PwC states that cloud attacks are the number one cyber risk concern for businesses today. Something that seems small, like a single misconfiguration, can turn into a major breach. It’s a worry, but we’ve got you covered with SecureFlag’s new Google Cloud Platform (GCP) security labs!
Cloud Security Trends: What’s Changing?
Cloud platforms like GCP, AWS, and Azure are becoming more complex because of the addition of new services, features, and capabilities. While this is beneficial for businesses, it also creates opportunities for security risks to get through.
Studies have shown that by the end of 2024, organizations were dealing with nearly five times more cloud security alerts per day than they had at the beginning of the year.
Bad actors are getting more sophisticated, as they’re constantly finding new ways to exploit misconfigured cloud environments. Hands-on training with SecureFlag’s GCP security labs helps engineers stay ahead of these emerging threats by giving them the necessary skills to keep cloud environments secure.
Security Challenges in GCP
We often hear about all the benefits that cloud platforms have, but security vulnerabilities can be overlooked. Also, engineering teams may not be fully up to speed about these issues and how to fix them.
Currently, some GCP security challenges that our labs cover include:
-
Misconfigured IAM roles: IAM roles need to be configured correctly, so that people don’t get overly permissive roles, leading to unauthorized entry.
-
Exposed cloud storage buckets: Publicly accessible or poorly secured Cloud Storage buckets may result in data breaches and leaks.
-
Network security gaps: Misconfigured firewalls can leave cloud environments open for unauthorized access.
-
Encryption and key management Issues: Not using proper encryption or key management practices puts sensitive data at risk.
We’ll also be adding these soon:
-
Misconfigured compute deployments: If your virtual machines and containers have weak security settings, workloads will likely be open to unauthorized access or attacks.
-
Unsecured APIs: APIs that aren’t properly secured can be an easy target for attackers to exploit GCP resources.
By working through GCP labs, engineers better understand cloud security risks and how to address them properly.
Practicing Security in a Real GCP Environment
Learning about security training from a textbook or answering multiple choice questions can be useful for some, but actually putting knowledge into practice is what counts the most!
With SecureFlag, engineers get to work on security problems they’ll likely face in their own work environments.
Examples of GCP Labs
-
An example of one GCP lab is where secrets are hardcoded in a Google Cloud Function deployment. A simple misconfiguration in Terraform ends up exposing sensitive information, something no organization wants.
-
In another lab, a Google Cloud Storage bucket has no logging enabled, meaning there’s no way to track access, making compliance a nightmare.
By working through these kinds of scenarios, engineers don’t just learn security; they train to secure GCP the right way.
Benefits of SecureFlag’s GCP Security Training Labs
Experience with Real-World Scenarios
Mitigate security issues that engineers deal with in their daily work, with challenges designed to show the kinds of problems they solve on the job.
Building Confidence in Cloud Security
Get the confidence to address security problems in a real GCP environment. By coding in an isolated, risk-free setting, engineers will be prepared to handle vulnerabilities as they arise in their own work.
Gamified Approach
Engineers can stay motivated with points, progress tracking, and achievement milestones, which are designed to keep learning fun and rewarding.
Stay on Track
SecureFlag provides feedback as engineers work through labs, making sure they are going in the right direction. Helpful hints keep them engaged and refine their skills along the way.
Safeguard Your GCP Environment With SecureFlag
With cloud attacks on the rise, engineers should integrate security into every stage of development. SecureFlag’s labs not only help to improve coding skills, but also promote a culture of security awareness.
Now is the time for your engineers to learn how to prevent misconfigurations, strengthen defenses, and keep cloud environments secure before threats emerge.
