Cloud Security shared responsibility refers to the division of security responsibilities between the cloud service provider (CSP) and the cloud customer. The exact division of responsibilities can vary depending on the type of cloud service being used, such as Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), or Software as a Service (SaaS).
In a Cloud Security shared responsibility model, the CSP is responsible for the security of the underlying cloud infrastructure, such as the physical security of the data center, the virtualization layer, and the network infrastructure. The CSP is also responsible for securing the cloud services and the management tools used to administer the services.
On the other hand, the cloud customer is responsible for the security of the data and applications they store and run on the cloud infrastructure. This includes:
- Securing their data: Cloud customers must ensure that their data is encrypted in transit and at rest, and access controls are implemented to prevent unauthorized access.
- Managing access: Cloud customers must manage access to their cloud services and applications by implementing appropriate access controls, such as identity and access management (IAM), multi-factor authentication (MFA), and least privilege access.
- Securing applications: Cloud customers must ensure that their applications are secure and free from vulnerabilities by conducting regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing.
- Monitoring and logging: Cloud customers must monitor their cloud services and applications and collect logs to detect and respond to security incidents.
The exact division of responsibilities between the CSP and the cloud customer can vary depending on the cloud service model being used. In general, the higher the level of abstraction (such as SaaS), the more responsibility lies with the CSP, while the lower the level of abstraction (such as IaaS), the more responsibility lies with the cloud customer. By adopting a Cloud Security shared responsibility model, cloud customers can ensure that their data and applications are secure in the cloud, while the CSP can ensure the security of the underlying infrastructure and services.
