Mornings as a cloud security analyst often start the same way: sipping coffee while staring at a (way too) long list of tasks. We know the feeling well and often ask ourselves: Where should we start? 

For cloud security teams, the answer is finally clear. Sweet Security’s new Issues Hub takes the guesswork out of prioritization, helping cloud security teams focus on the most critical problems in their environment. This tool doesn’t just manage alerts or incidents; it shines a spotlight on the toxic combinations that could lead to breaches if left unchecked. With Issues Hub, security teams can stay ahead of threats before they even arise.

What sets Sweet’s Issues Hub apart is its runtime-backed foundation. This enables us to provide the most granular understanding of how issues truly affect your environment in real time. By cross-correlating data across misconfigurations, exposures, vulnerabilities, and secrets, Sweet ensures that only the most critical and actionable issues rise to the surface, so your team can focus on what truly matters.

Prevent a Breach by Identifying Issues Early On

Detections tell you about incidents or configuration state changes currently happening in your environment. But what about the attack surface that sets the stage for these attacks? Sweet highlights issues and dangerous interplays between assets and configurations that attackers could exploit to gain initial access.

What is an Issue?

Issues arise when multiple risk factors align to create a perfect storm for attackers. Here are some examples:

• Plaintext secrets and critical vulnerabilities on public-facing workloads.
• Exposed APIs linked to misconfigured IAM roles, creating an open door for exploitation.
• High-privileged IAM roles that allow unrestricted access across services or users.
• Vulnerable containers with public exposure, where known exploits can be executed.
• Packages with a bad reputation running on publicly exposed workloads.

 From Issues to Active Prevention 

Sweet’s goal with this feature is to not only highlight the dangerous interplay of risks that urgently need to be addressed, but to help you and your fellow security teams prioritize what to address first and who should address it. In essence, it provides:

• A unified view of issues in your cloud environment.
• An understanding of the criticality and urgency of each issue.
• Clarity on the right person who needs to address the problem.

Starting Your Day Right: DevOps & DevSecOps Edition 

When you open the Issues Hub page in Sweet, you’re greeted with a prioritized view of all critical and high issues in your environment. 

Here’s how to make the most out of it and structure your day:

1. Scan the Issues List & Prioritize

Start by reviewing the list of critical and high-priority issues surfaced by the system. One of the most important aspects here is the ability to utilize two "group by" views, catering to different approaches:

• Group by Workload/Asset: Handle the issues tied to your most "in danger" workloads or assets first. For example, prioritize addressing sensitive production workloads that house critical data.
• Group by Issue Type: Tackle issues by their nature, such as cleaning up all plaintext secrets that expose your environment to unnecessary risk.

This flexibility allows teams to focus on either the most vulnerable assets or the most pressing types of issues.

2. Filter by Issue Type

To narrow down the list and focus on what’s relevant to your role, use the "Issues Type" filter. This allows you to view issues based on their category, such as:

• Hardening: Misconfigurations that weaken your environment’s security posture.
• Secrets: Plaintext secrets or credentials that could be exposed to attackers.
• Vulnerabilities: Known weaknesses in software or systems that are exploitable.
• Incidents: Ongoing issues related to potentially malicious activity.
• Identities: Over-permissive roles or mismanaged access controls.
• Connections: Risky or unauthorized network pathways that expose sensitive resources.
• Violations: Breaches of policy or compliance standards that increase security exposure.

By selecting the most relevant issue type, you can quickly hone in on what matters most to you.

3. Refine by Risk Indicators

Once you’ve filtered by issue type, drill down further by applying additional filters based on risk indicators, such as:

• Sensitive Data: Issues involving assets or environments containing sensitive or critical data.
• Critical Environments: Issues affecting production environments or other high-priority areas.

This step ensures you’re not only addressing critical issues but also considering the context and impact of those issues within your organization.

4. Collaborate and Take Action for the Day

Issues Hub goes beyond identifying problems; it connects them to the teams responsible for resolving them. Assign Jira tasks to the right individuals directly within the platform. 

To Summarize, What’s Cool About Sweet’s Issues Hub?

1. Start Your Day Right

Issues Hub provides a bottom-line assessment of your environment, showing the critical items that demand immediate attention. It helps DevOps and SecOps teams prioritize their morning workflows, ensuring that the most pressing issues are addressed before anything else.

2. Connect the Dots Across Teams

Security is a shared responsibility. Issues Hub doesn’t just show you what’s wrong — it also highlights which teams need to act. Whether it’s a developer addressing a vulnerable package or an operations team fixing a misconfigured IAM role, this feature ensures the right people are looped in.

3. Stay Ahead of Threats

By tackling issues before they’re exploited, Issues Hub shifts the focus from reactive incident response to proactive cloud security. This approach strengthens your overall security posture and keeps attackers at bay.

4. Built for DevOps and SecOps

Issues Hub is designed with DevSecOps, DevOps, and SecOps in mind. It bridges the gap between these teams, providing a unified view of risks and actionable insights to address them. Whether you’re managing workloads, applications, or data, this feature ensures that everyone starts their day aligned on the most critical priorities. 

In a world where attackers are constantly innovating, it’s time to stay one step ahead. Make Issues Hub your starting point and transform the way you approach cloud security every day.

Ready to prioritize what matters most? Book a demo today!