Analysing Data Security Issues in Cloud Platforms like Microsoft Azure

Abstract

Cloud services operate within distributed platforms by transferring services from local systems to cloud servers. Microsoft Azure, as a leading cloud service provider, offers diverse solutions, including Platform as a Service (PaaS), Software as a Service (SaaS), and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS). Azure enables computation, data sharing, and storage, supporting private, public, and hybrid cloud environments. These services facilitate virtualized data centers, providing tools for data analysis, issue identification, categorization, and classification to address specific challenges in cloud platforms. This research focuses on leveraging Azure’s security frameworks to mitigate threats and vulnerabilities that arise during service communication within distributed cloud environments. Key security concerns include Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks, network communication vulnerabilities, privacy challenges, improper cryptographic practices, and suboptimal network architecture design. The study examines various attack vectors affecting cloud services and analyzes security measures implemented by Azure to address these issues. By adhering to Azure’s established guidelines and standards, specific solutions are proposed to address the identified security threats. The research highlights Azure's advanced security tools and services, such as DDoS protection, encryption techniques, and network security mechanisms, to ensure robust and improved security for distributed cloud platforms. The findings aim to enhance understanding of security challenges and provide actionable insights for safeguarding cloud-based systems.