Cloud Security Risks Are Rising in Southeast Asia

Cloud Security Risks Are Getting Real in Southeast Asia

If you're building your business in the cloud or using platforms like AWS to power your startup, you need to read this.

A new Cloud Security Risk Report by cybersecurity firm Tenable reveals that businesses across Singapore and Southeast Asia including Malaysia are facing serious exposure to cloud related threats.

From exposed credentials to public storage buckets full of sensitive data, the risks are bigger and more widespread than many realise.

---

Key Findings: What You Need to Know

Based on data from October 2024 to March 2025, Tenable’s research revealed some eye-opening stats:

• 🔐 9% of cloud storage contains sensitive data (think customer records, internal files)
• 🌍 1 in 10 publicly accessible cloud buckets hold confidential info due to misconfigurations
• 💻 54% of AWS ECS workloads contain hardcoded secrets like passwords or API keys
• 🧠 3.5% of AWS EC2 instances also leak credentials in plain text

These gaps make it way too easy for cyber attackers to hijack cloud environments sometimes for things like crypto mining, but often worse.

---

Why This Hits Hard in Southeast Asia

Countries like Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia all have strict data protection laws (PDPA, PDP Law, etc). Exposing customer data through weak cloud setups could lead to:

• 💸 Heavy fines
• ⚖️ Regulatory action
• 💔 Loss of customer trust
• 🔐 Long-term damage to brand credibility

And in Singapore, the Cybersecurity Act and MAS guidelines mean non-compliance isn’t just a slap on the wrist, it’s a business risk.

---

What Needs to Change

Tenable’s Director of Cloud Security Research, Ari Eitan, summed it up:

“Secrets are the keys to the kingdom, yet many organisations are unknowingly leaving them unguarded.”

Here’s how to prevent that:

• Use least privilege access for all cloud accounts
• Audit storage buckets and remove public access unless absolutely needed
• Rotate secrets and credentials regularly
• Enable continuous monitoring of cloud activity
• Apply zero-trust architecture across cloud services

---

Cloud Is Fast, But It Needs Guardrails

Southeast Asia is going full speed on cloud adoption from national digital blueprints to startup ecosystems scaling with cloud-native tech. But speed without security? That’s a digital disaster waiting to happen.

Tenable’s message is clear: treat cloud security like a boardroom issue, not just a backend task.

If you’re a founder, developer, or digital team lead, now’s the time to double down on cloud governance and exposure management.