The Cloud Security Crisis: Why 90% of Companies Are Under Attack (And How to Stay Safe)

If you thought moving to the cloud would make your business safer, think again. A staggering 90% of cybersecurity leaders worldwide reported cloud-targeted cyberattacks in the past year, according to a new global study. Hackers aren’t just sneaking in they’re walking through the front door using stolen logins, bypassing traditional defenses, and wreaking havoc in record time.

The New Playbook: Hackers Are Ditching Malware for Stolen Logins

Gone are the days when cyberattacks meant dodging suspicious email attachments or dodgy downloads. Today’s criminals have a simpler strategy: steal legitimate credentials and log in like an employee.

The research reveals that 79% of cloud breaches now involve “malware-free” attacks, meaning hackers aren’t relying on viruses or malicious code. Instead, they:

• Buy leaked passwords on the dark web

• Phish employees for login details

• Exploit weak multi-factor authentication (MFA) setups

Once inside, attackers move fast. The average “breakout time” how long it takes to jump from one system to another has dropped to just 48 minutes, with some breaches spreading in under a minute.

Why Ransomware Is Still a Nightmare (And Why Backups Aren’t Enough)

Ransomware isn’t fading it’s evolving. A shocking 86% of attacked organizations paid ransoms last year, often because hackers didn’t just encrypt data they deleted or corrupted backups too.

“Backups used to be the safety net,” says one cybersecurity analyst. “Now, attackers specifically target them, leaving companies with no choice but to pay.”

Microsoft’s Stunning Stat: 600 Million Identity Attacks Blocked… Every Day

Microsoft’s latest data shows just how relentless identity-based attacks have become. Their systems block over 600 million credential-based attacks daily a mix of phishing, password spraying, and brute-force attempts.

The typical attack chain looks like this:

1. Stolen credentials (from leaks or phishing)

2. Access cloud apps (like Office 365 or AWS)

3. Move laterally (using IT admin tools)

4. Steal or encrypt data

How Companies Are Fighting Back

The report highlights three critical defenses businesses must adopt:

1. Assume Breaches Will Happen Focus on Limiting Damage

With attackers slipping past defenses so easily, experts recommend a “zero trust” approach:

• Verify every login attempt, even from “trusted” devices

• Limit employee access to only what’s necessary

• Monitor for unusual activity (like logins at 3 AM from another country)

2. Lock Down Identity Management

Since 35% of cloud breaches start with compromised accounts, companies are:

• Enforcing phishing-resistant MFA (like hardware security keys)

• Using AI-driven anomaly detection to flag suspicious logins

• Regularly auditing who has admin access

3. Make Backups Hack-Proof

Traditional backups aren’t enough. Solutions now include:

• Immutable backups (can’t be altered or deleted)

• Air-gapped storage (physically disconnected from networks)

• Frequent testing to ensure recovery actually works

The Bottom Line: Cloud Isn’t Insecure But Defenses Must Evolve

The cloud isn’t the problem outdated security habits are. As one CISO put it: “We spent years guarding the castle walls. Now, hackers are already inside, and we need to spot them before they take the crown jewels.”

For businesses, the message is clear: If you’re not prioritizing identity protection and ransomware-proof backups, you’re playing Russian roulette with your data.

Why This Matters for You

Even if you’re not a Fortune 500 company, cloud attacks hit small businesses, hospitals, and schools just as hard. The good news? Simple fixes like stronger MFA and backup checks can block most attacks before they spiral.