After a hike up Cowles Mountain, I spent time at the San Carlos Library sharpening my cybersecurity skills by diving into Security+ topics focused on cloud vulnerabilities and encryption technologies. With cyber threats evolving, understanding cloud security risks and hardware-based encryption is crucial for IT professionals.
🔹 Cloud Security Risks & Vulnerabilities
As organizations move more infrastructure to the cloud, security misconfigurations leave systems open to attacks:
- 76% of companies don’t use multi-factor authentication (MFA) for console access.
- 63% of production code remains unpatched, exposing organizations to exploitation.
- Attackers use methods like Denial-of-Service (DoS), authentication bypass, directory traversal, and remote code execution to breach cloud environments.
🔹 Web Application Attacks on the Rise
- Vulnerabilities such as Log4j and Spring Cloud Function expose software flaws used in high-profile breaches.
- Attacks like SQL Injection, Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), and Out-of-Bounds Write target input fields and authentication systems.
🔹 Hardware-Based Encryption: Securing Sensitive Data
I also explored Trusted Platform Modules (TPM) and Hardware Security Modules (HSM):
- TPM 2.0 secures cryptographic keys and prevents unauthorized system modifications.
- HSMs encrypt and store sensitive data used for authentication and security operations.
- Windows 11 mandates TPM 2.0, reinforcing the importance of hardware-based security.
🔹 The DOGE Controversy: Government Efficiency or Risk?
Beyond cybersecurity, I explored the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a controversial initiative backed by Donald Trump and Elon Musk. DOGE aims to cut government spending, streamline bureaucracy, and modernize federal IT. However, its impact on transparency and cybersecurity is unclear.
Key concerns include:
- Elon Musk’s Role: Reports suggest Musk is not the official administrator, despite speculation.
- Privacy Risks: DOGE initiatives may lead to increased government data collection with unclear safeguards.
- Budget Cuts & Job Losses: The initiative’s push for efficiency could impact government IT jobs.
As discussions continue, DOGE raises important questions about government technology, security, and transparency.
Think Positive Cyber 