Ethical Hacking Essentials Practice Test

What method can be used to mitigate side-channel attacks in cloud environments?

1. Only allow local memory access

2. Check for repeated access attempts to local memory

3. Implement strict user authentication

4. Activate firewall on all servers

The correct answer is: Check for repeated access attempts to local memory

The method of checking for repeated access attempts to local memory is effective in mitigating side-channel attacks in cloud environments because it helps detect potential malicious behavior that could indicate an ongoing attack. Side-channel attacks often exploit timing information, power consumption, electromagnetic leaks, or other unintentional information that can be gathered during the execution of a program. By monitoring and logging access attempts to local memory, systems can identify unusual patterns or excessive requests, which may be signals of an attacker trying to glean sensitive information through side-channel observations. In a cloud environment, where resources are shared among different users and applications, such monitoring is critical to ensure the integrity and security of the system. This proactive approach makes it harder for an attacker to conduct reconnaissance without being noticed, thus reducing the risk of successful side-channel attacks. The other methods, while important for general security, do not directly target the unique aspects of side-channel attacks. Limiting local memory access addresses broader security concerns but may not specifically prevent side-channel attacks since they can still occur if an attacker is already gaining data from shared resources. Implementing strict user authentication, while a strong security practice, focuses primarily on ensuring that users are verified rather than preventing access to system vulnerabilities. Activating firewalls helps control incoming and outgoing network