The rapid adoption of cloud technology has changed the way businesses operate, providing flexibility, agility, and opportunities for innovation. However, this change also presents a major challenge: the “ghost in the machine” – undetectable and dynamic threats that use the complexity and scale of cloud environments to remain hidden, evade traditional detection methods and pose significant risks to organizations.
Unlike static, on-premise systems, cloud environments are constantly changing. Applications migrate, data moves between platforms, and the attack surface expands with each new service or misconfigured setting. As a result, security teams often struggle to keep up with the speed and scope of these environments, creating opportunities for attackers to blend in and avoid detection. These features have made the cloud a fertile ground for advanced threat actors who use automation and vulnerability identity to attack critical systems.
Threats from the clouds
Modern cloud environments have dramatically changed the way attackers operate. In traditional data centers, updates were rare, network entry and exit points were well defined, and security teams could write precise threat detection rules. The cloud, however, flips this paradigm. Applications are reused frequently, workloads change frequently, and identity systems introduce new vulnerabilities.
James Condon, director of Fortinet Lacework Labs, explains how attackers have evolved around these changes: “Early cloud threats were often tied to misconfigurations, such as exposed S3 buckets or open databases. As organizations grapple with these vulnerabilities, attackers begin targeting identities and identity theft to navigate cloud environments undetected and gain access to sensitive data or resources. “
Identity compromise is now a common entry point for cloud breaches. Attackers often exploit weak credentials, phishing campaigns, or poorly configured permissions to break into systems. Once inside, they behave like legitimate users, making their activities difficult to distinguish from normal operations. Meanwhile, the size of hybrid environments and multiple cloud environments, each with their own configuration and logs, can overwhelm security teams and create blind spots for attackers to exploit.
The challenge of visibility and integration
The inherent complexity of the cloud includes security challenges. Hybrid and multi-cloud environments often involve a combination of communication, monitoring, and threat detection tools, many of which lack integration. These disconnected systems prevent centralized visibility, forcing security teams to manually collate information and increase response times.
This disparate approach has created what Frank Dixon, group vice president of security and trust at IDC, described at the recent Fortinet Cloud conference as a “self-destructive” problem. “As organizations embraced cloud technology, they placed new tools on top of existing systems without considering how they would work together. Now, they face difficulties that hinder their ability to respond effectively to threats. “
Increased detection of an integrated threat
To meet these challenges, organizations must adopt integrated solutions that match the speed and complexity of the cloud. Threat detection must move from static, rules-based methods to dynamic systems that use real-time analytics and automation.
Integrated visibility and contextual information. Visibility in one place is the foundation of effective cloud security. Solutions must integrate data from multiple sources—on-premise systems, cloud platforms, and SaaS applications—into a single, coherent view. This allows security teams to detect unusual behavior, such as anomalies in API calls or unexpected lateral movements. Behavioral statistics, which identify deviations from normal activity, are very effective in identifying potential identity-based attacks.
Integrated platforms. Shifting to integrated platforms is critical to reducing complexity and improving efficiency. Dixon notes, “The term ‘platform’ does not refer to a single tool but encompasses the seamless integration of multiple solutions that work together out of the box.” This approach reduces training requirements, simplifies management, and ensures rapid, coordinated responses to threats. An ideal platform should enable organizations to seamlessly identify and secure themselves.
Automatic detection and response. Automation is critical to addressing cloud performance measurement. AI-driven systems can process and correlate telemetry in real time, identifying threats faster than manual methods. Automation also enables quick responses, such as isolating vulnerable situations or revoking access to stolen data, to limit the damage that attackers can do.
Catching the ghost in the machine
The ghost in the machine thrives on complexity, using disjointed systems, fragmented visibility, and proprietary weaknesses to evade detection. To stay ahead, organizations must adopt strategies that combine advanced acquisition capabilities with operational simplicity.
James Condon highlights a critical approach: “Layering multiple detection methods—behavior analysis, anomaly detection, and threat intelligence—helps separate real threats from noise. Combining this information into a graph-based model that shows the relationships between users, resources, and activities is very effective in identifying hidden threats.”
Integrated platforms that integrate security across networks, endpoints, and cloud environments provide highly effective protection. These solutions provide a unified foundation for identifying and eliminating threats before they spread. By prioritizing visibility, automation, and integration, organizations can move faster than attackers, interrupting the machine ghost before it does damage.
As cloud environments continue to evolve, ghosting will remain an ever-present challenge. But with the right tools and strategies, security teams can adapt to the speed and scale of the cloud, turning it from a source of complexity into a source of resilience.
“The ghost in the machine will always test the limits of our defenses,” Condon concluded. “But by focusing on integration, real-time analytics, and rapid threat detection, we can turn the challenges of the cloud into opportunities for innovation and security.”
For businesses navigating hybrid and multi-cloud environments, ghosting isn’t just a goal—it’s a necessity to thrive in today’s digital environment.
Read more about Fortinet Cloud Security Solutions.
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