Welcome to the final installment in our Brews & Cyber Threats blog series from Info Advantage, where we’ve spent the past few weeks pairing Rochester’s finest beers from Rohrbach Brewing Company with the most pressing cybersecurity threats facing small and mid-sized businesses.

This week, we’re tackling a silent but widespread issue: cloud misconfigurations. And we’re pairing it with Rohrbach’s Vanilla Porter, a rich, complex brew layered with chocolate, caramel, roasted barley, and authentic vanilla extract. Like your cloud setup, it’s all about getting the details right—or risk a bitter surprise.

Cloud Misconfigurations

Cloud services like Microsoft 365, Azure, and AWS offer incredible flexibility, scalability, and collaboration. But with great power comes great responsibility, and many businesses overlook the need to configure cloud environments properly.

Cloud misconfigurations refer to settings that leave data, services, or applications exposed to unauthorized access—or even the open internet.

Examples include:

• Leaving storage buckets (like AWS S3) publicly accessible

• Failing to enable encryption

• Mismanaging user roles and permissions

• Ignoring multi-factor authentication

• Lack of activity monitoring or logging

Why small businesses are especially at risk:

• Most cloud platforms are self-service, and IT staff may lack cloud-specific training

• Misconfigurations often go unnoticed until it’s too late

• The perception that “the cloud provider handles security” leads to dangerous oversights

👉 An IBM report found that cloud misconfigurations were responsible for over 15% of all data breaches globally, many involving millions of records.

Info Advantage’s Advice: Make the Cloud Work for You—Not Against You

Cloud platforms aren’t inherently risky, but if yours is misconfigured, it can be. At Info Advantage, we help clients get the most from their cloud investments without leaving the door open to data loss or downtime.

Here’s how we do it:

• Cloud Security Assessments – We evaluate your setup for misconfigurations, insecure access, and policy gaps

• Access Control & Role Management – Ensuring the right users have the right access—nothing more

• Logging & Monitoring – Setting up alerts for suspicious activity

• Backup & Recovery Planning – Making sure data is backed up and recoverable

• Ongoing Support & Optimization – Keeping your cloud secure as your business evolves

Rohrbach’s Vanilla Porter: Complex, Layered, and Worth the Effort

This English-style porter is brewed with a variety of malts and finished with real vanilla extract. It’s rich, nuanced, and demands attention to detail—just like your cloud setup.

This pairing works because both the beer and the cloud require structure, discipline, and planning.

• Done right: Smooth, satisfying, and rewarding

• Done wrong: Bitter, costly, and unforgettable

Clean Your Cloud

Don’t let a misclick in your cloud environment lead to a headline-making breach. The flexibility of the cloud is only a benefit when paired with solid configuration and oversight.

Want to know if your cloud is set up properly?
Schedule a free cloud security consultation with Info Advantage and make sure your data is locked down—without locking out your team’s productivity.

👉 Request a Cloud Security Review

We’re also just weeks away from our Cybersecurity & Craft Beer Tasting Event at Rohrbach Brewing Company in Rochester. Guests will enjoy all five featured beers, expert security insights, and the chance to win VIP prizes.

⚠️ Spots are limited—reserve your seat today here: https://www.info-adv.com/upcoming-event-october-2025