BSIT400-T301 Cloud Computing & Governance (2257-1)

  Azure Storage platform is a Microsoft’s cloud storage solution for modern data storage. What Azure Storage contains a very available, a storage that is scalable, durable, and secure for many different data objects in the cloud. Azure Storage data objects are accessible from anywhere in the world over HTTP or HTTPS via a REST API. Azure Storage also offers client libraries for developers building applications or services with .NET, Java, Python, JavaScript, C++, and Go. Developers and IT professionals can use Azure PowerShell and Azure CLI to write scripts for data management or configuration tasks. The Azure portal and Azure Storage Explorer provide user-interface tools for interacting with Azure Storage.   Reference: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/storage/common/storage-introduction  

 Implement secure password policies. 1. Foundational Principles Modern password policies must balance security with usability, guided by evidence-based standards (e.g., NIST SP 800-63B). Key shifts include: Eliminating periodic resets: Research shows forced changes lead to weaker passwords (e.g., "Spring2023!" → "Summer2023!"). Prioritizing length over complexity: A 12-character passphrase ("PurpleTiger$Rides@9am") is stronger than "P@ssw0rd1" and easier to remember. Banning compromised passwords: Use databases like Have I Been Pwned to block common/breached passwords. 2. Policy Components Technical Requirements Minimum length: 12+ characters (NIST recommends 8, but 12+ resists brute-force attacks). No arbitrary complexity: Allow spaces, all Unicode characters, and passphrases. Multi-factor authentication (MFA): Mandate for all accounts, using FIDO2/WebAuthn or TOTP apps (e.g., Google Authenticator). Account lockouts: Temporary lock after 5–10 fa...

  **Cloud computing comes with risks such as security breaches, service outages, cost overruns, performance bottlenecks, and management complexities, which require careful planning and ongoing oversight to mitigate**.       ### Common Cloud Computing Problems     **1. Security Risks: **   Data stored in the cloud can be vulnerable to unauthorized access, breaches, and attacks if security measures are inadequate. Misconfigurations, improper access controls, and lack of encryption increase these risks. Cloud environments are frequent targets for cyberattacks, and insider threats from cloud provider employees can also pose privacy concerns [^5^] [^9^]. **2. Service Outages and Downtime: **   Despite high reliability claims, cloud services can suffer outages due to hardware failures, software bugs, or automated system errors. For example, major providers like AWS have experienced outages caused by overwhelmed networking devices or tr...

  Cloud Computing Challenges 1 2 Cloud computing has revolutionized the IT industry by providing on-demand resources like data and storage. However, it also presents several challenges that need to be addressed to ensure smooth operations and security. Data Security and Privacy Data security is a significant concern in cloud computing. User or organizational data stored in the cloud is critical and private. Issues such as identity theft, data breaches, and malware infections can decrease user trust and lead to potential revenue loss 1 . To mitigate these risks, it is essential to implement user authentication, data encryption, and access control measures. Cost Management While cloud service providers offer a "Pay As You Go" model, hidden costs can arise from under-optimized resources, degraded application performance, and unused resources 1 . Regular auditing and resource utilization monitoring can help manage these costs effectively. Multi-Cloud Environments Many enterprises...