Data Breach Defender Use Case: Cloud Storage Monitoring

Cyber threat actors use cloud storage services to collect exfiltrated data. Samir Mishiyev, Product Manager at Celerium, explains how Data Breach Defender™ monitors cloud storage systems to strengthen and protect against modern data exfiltration risks.

1. Setting the Stage

How do threat actors use cloud storage?

Threat actors have gotten very sophisticated in how they use cloud storage. One of the most common tactics we see is exfiltration. They’ll use legitimate cloud platforms like AWS, Azure, Wasabi, or even Mega to move stolen data. By sending it to trusted cloud services instead of suspicious servers, they make it much harder for traditional security tools to spot.

Attackers also take advantage of misconfigured storage buckets. If a company accidentally leaves one open or sets weak permissions, hackers can scan for those exposures and get access to sensitive data without ever breaching the firewall.

Beyond that, cloud storage often gets used for staging attacks—moving data internally before exfiltration or even hosting malware and command-and-control instructions. Because these services are widely trusted, the malicious activity blends in with normal business operations.

We’ve even seen attackers spin up fake companies or domains on cloud platforms to mimic real business partners, tricking both users and security teams.

The customer impact here is clear: without cloud-aware monitoring, organizations are effectively blind to these tactics. By closing that visibility gap, they can detect malicious use of cloud services early, reduce the chance of a successful exfiltration, and protect sensitive data more effectively.

2. The Problem

What are the unique risks of cloud storage that healthcare organizations, and really any enterprise, face today?

That’s a great question. Cloud storage definitely introduces some unique risks. One of the biggest is data exfiltration tied to ransomware. Attackers are getting smarter and often use legitimate cloud services to sneak sensitive data out of the network, sometimes as part of those double-extortion schemes.

Another big challenge is shadow IT. Employees might start using cloud apps or storage services on their own, without IT approval, which makes it really hard for security and compliance teams to keep visibility.

Then there’s misconfiguration. We’ve all seen cases where storage buckets are accidentally left exposed, or access controls aren’t set up correctly, which can lead to PHI or other sensitive data being exposed.

And finally, just the sheer number of vendors and endpoints out there creates complexity. It becomes difficult to know exactly where all of your data is, which increases both compliance headaches and breach risks.

For healthcare organizations, the benefit of addressing these risks proactively is peace of mind—you get better visibility, fewer blind spots, and stronger protection for patient data without slowing down your operations.

How does a breach or data misconfiguration in cloud storage differ from traditional network-based threats?

Cloud breaches play out pretty differently compared to traditional network threats. With a cloud misconfiguration, for example, a single mistake, such as leaving an S3 bucket open, can expose huge amounts of data all at once, and it often happens outside the reach of the usual perimeter defenses.

Traditional network attacks usually involve malware or someone breaking directly into the system. In the cloud, it’s more about access control and configuration. The tricky part is that once data is exposed in the cloud, attackers may still have access to it even if you fix the network side.

And to make it even more challenging, a lot of the usual monitoring tools don’t catch cloud activity, especially if attackers are using legitimate APIs or services to move that data. So, the detection and response approach really has to be different in the cloud.

That’s why organizations really benefit from cloud-aware monitoring. It closes those visibility gaps, reduces response times, and helps ensure sensitive data isn’t left exposed longer than it needs to be.

3. The Solution

What does Celerium’s new cloud storage monitoring capability actually do? (e.g., what types of activity or anomalies does it catch?

What this new capability does is give organizations visibility into all of their cloud storage use. We built it to automatically discover which cloud services are in play by mapping against the CIDR ranges of the major vendors.

From there, it looks for red flags. Things like unusual data transfers, large outbound movements to cloud endpoints, or cloud services being used without authorization. That means it can spot activity tied to double extortion, ransomware exfiltration, or even shadow IT where employees spin up their own cloud accounts.

And we’re not stopping there. We’re extending this same approach to cover some categories of medical devices and other types of critical infrastructure, so organizations get a broader safety net.

For customers, the benefit is early detection of problems that could otherwise go unnoticed. It helps stop a breach in its tracks and gives IT teams confidence that they’re not missing hidden risks.

How does this capability integrate into Data Breach Defender™—was it an extension or a whole new feature built?

It’s really an extension of what we already had in place. We took the anomaly detection and permission list mechanisms from Data Breach Defender and layered in cloud-specific intelligence. Because we could build on the same reporting and alerting framework, we were able to roll out the new capability quickly and seamlessly.

For customers, that means no new systems to learn, and no extra complexity. It just works within the platform they’re already using. So, they get immediate value and stronger protection without added overhead.

How quickly were you able to roll this out after the incident, and what made that speed possible?

We can roll this out very quickly. In fact, a few days after we received customer feedback, we were able to implement the lookup table and start detecting suspicious cloud activity right away. The reason we can move that fast is our modular architecture. We’re not reinventing the wheel each time; we’re reusing the same detection and reporting logic we already have in place, but applying it to the cloud.

For customers, that speed is critical. It means they get protection when they need it most, which is during and immediately after an incident, without long delays or complex deployments.

4. Real-World Impact

How does this new feature help organizations in regulated sectors like healthcare comply with requirements (HIPAA, HHS, etc.)?

The main thing is visibility. We help organizations see who is using cloud storage, where the data is going, and whether unauthorized transfers are happening. That kind of insight is key for staying compliant with HIPAA, HHS, and other data protection rules.

It also supports breach notification requirements by giving teams the data they need to act fast and accurately.

For customers outside of healthcare, say defense contractors or county governments, why does cloud storage monitoring matter?

In regulated sectors like healthcare, visibility and accountability are everything. This new feature gives organizations a clear view into how cloud storage is being used, flags unauthorized transfers, and even supports breach notification requirements.

For healthcare teams, that directly ties back to compliance with HIPAA and HHS guidelines. It means they can prove sensitive data is being properly monitored and protected. And if something does happen, they have the evidence and alerts they need to respond quickly.

The real benefit for customers is peace of mind. They can focus on patient care knowing they’re meeting regulatory requirements and reducing the risk of costly fines or reputational damage.

Can you share any early customer reactions or success stories since release?

Sure. One example is a regional medical center. Our cloud monitoring helped them detect and respond to a ransomware incident involving exfiltration to cloud storage. Data Breach Defender was a critical part of their forensic and response process.

Another hospital customer saw real value in the tool and has been actively recommending it to peers and associations. That kind of feedback is great validation for what we’re doing.

5. Forward Thinking

How does this addition fit into Celerium’s broader vision for Data Breach Defender™?

This is a key piece of our larger vision. Data Breach Defender is meant to be a unified platform that detects threats across networks, servers, and now cloud environments. The goal is full-spectrum coverage to prevent attacks where possible and respond quickly when they happen.

What future expansions are you considering for cloud-related monitoring -- multi-cloud, SaaS apps, AI-driven detection?

All of that. We’re working to cover more cloud providers and support hybrid and multi-cloud setups. We’re also expanding into SaaS monitoring, because a lot of data flows through those apps now.

On top of that, we’re integrating machine learning to help detect things like unusual file sizes, repeating patterns, and real-time anomalies. It’s all about making detection smarter and faster.

If you could give IT and security leaders one piece of advice about cloud security right now, what would it be?

Don’t assume your cloud environment is secure just because it’s in the cloud. Inventory every endpoint, monitor data transfers, and make sure you’re watching both authorized and unauthorized usage.

Rapid detection and response are critical. Set up automated alerts and review your configurations regularly.

See how Data Breach Defender™ can protect your cloud data.

**Offer valid through December 31, 2025