Virtual machines, virtually everywhere – and with real security gaps

This article discusses the growing problem of virtual machine (VM) sprawl in cloud environments, particularly within multi-cloud setups utilizing AWS, Azure, and GCP. The ease with which new VMs can be provisioned, coupled with a lack of diligent decommissioning and monitoring, leads to a significant security risk. Unmanaged VMs, often granted overly permissive access, can become vulnerable entry points for attackers, enabling lateral movement, data exfiltration, and ransomware deployment. The article highlights the importance of visibility, proper configuration, and robust security controls to mitigate this expanding threat.