Ineffective and weak Identity and Access Management (IAM) practices present a significant cloud security challenge. Cloud infrastructure requires a sophisticated system of granular control because users access resources primarily at the application or modular level. However, a majority of cybersecurity threats, including those related to the cloud, can be traced back to IAM issues, particularly those caused by inadequate credential protection, lack of automated cryptographic key, password and certificate rotation, weak passwords, and absence of multi-factor authentication (MFA). Findings from SISA’s forensic investigations reveal that the compromise of cloud account credentials and the absence of MFA is a common ingress point for intruders to access cloud environments. As a result, businesses must prioritize IAM strategies that are robust, secure, and efficient, including MFA, automated key rotation, and strong password policies. This is critical for protecting cloud infrastructure from security breaches and ensuring that sensitive data remains secure.