These days, the cloud is not just limited to storage; it comes with on-demand access to a computer (virtual), databases, analytics, or even the software over the network with flexible pricing based on usage, enabling more than just a storage solution, such as digital workflows, real-time collaboration, and more. There are options to go for SaaS, like Microsoft 365, or even PaaS, where we get access to global apps without even touching physical hardware. With the advancement and availability of software and the convenience it offers, developers are heavily dependent on cloud solutions, but as usage increases, this also means more deployment of its services, potentially missing key security details.

but we’ve all been there: It’s 2:00 AM, the coffee is cold, and you just want the damn app to work. You click “Allow All,” tell yourself you’ll fix it Monday, and go to bed.

But in the cloud, “I’ll fix it later” is a dangerous game. Here are five ways we accidentally leave the door unlocked—and how to bolt it shut.

1. The “Wide Open” S3 Bucket

The Mistake: You’re rushing to host some images, so you make the bucket public. Suddenly, your private customer data is indexed on Google.

The Fix: Hit the “Big Red Button.” Enable S3 Block Public Access at the account level. It’s a safety net that overrides any “oops” a tired dev might make.