Over the past decade, the way we build and deploy applications has changed dramatically. The explosion of public cloud providers enables us to deploy software without engaging in a drawn-out process to procure and set up infrastructure. Agile, DevOps, Continuous Integration, Continuous Deployment, and other changes to how we work have dramatically accelerated the speed with which we can get new applications and updates in front of our users.

If applying IP allow lists to the cloud excites you as much Another One Bites the Dust on volume 11, read on. In this blog, I’ll discuss some considerations regarding operationalizing, automating, and increasing the efficacy of IP allow lists in your cloud infrastructure. Although this discussion will be in the context of cloud infrastructure providers such as AWS, GCP, and Azure, it should also be applicable to other cloud infrastructure and application environments.

A recent study by Sophos has added more fuel to the RDP fire, confirming that the exploitation of this service, when not adequately protected, remains one of the preferred techniques to compromise an organization. Not only has the exposure of RDP servers, driven by the pandemic, led to an exponential increase of brute-force attacks against this service, but it has also encouraged a flourishing market of initial access brokers.