The responsibility associated with cloud security is not well understood by many businesses, which assume that once they move their data or applications into the cloud, security will be entirely taken care of by the provider.
MYTH: “Cloud providers handle all your security.”
FACT: Cloud providers protect their environment, but you must take responsibility for managing access, permissions, and security of your data.
The misconception that cloud providers are entirely accountable for security can put a business in a vulnerable position, exposing it to security breaches, misconfigurations, and insider attacks.
What Cloud Providers Actually Protect
A cloud provider will concentrate on the infrastructure, which includes:
Data centre physical security
Server hardware security
Network infrastructure
Basic security of the platform
This does not extend to the applications you have, the people you have, or the configuration of the data. It’s like having a safe within a secure building. You can have the building secured, but how you then lock the safe and who has access to the safe is not the responsibility of the building.
Your Responsibilities in the Cloud
Despite the high level of security provided by the cloud, your business will still have the following responsibilities:
1. Access Control and Permissions
- Users will have proper access
- Strong authentication and password controls
2. Data Protection
- Sensitive information will be encrypted
- Regular backup of information
3. Configuration Management
- Cloud security will be checked regularly
- Avoid default configurations
4. Monitoring and Incident Response
- Set up alerts for suspicious activities
- Clear response plan
You will ignore these responsibilities at your own peril, as attackers will take advantage of these omissions without any alerts from the cloud.
Common Cloud Security Mistakes
The common mistakes that businesses make include:
- Assuming that the cloud service provider will handle user errors
- Ignoring storage bucket configuration and permissions
- Failing to monitor access logs for suspicious activity
- Using poor passwords and shared passwords
How to Take Ownership of Cloud Security
- To minimize risks, businesses should:
- Implement Identity and Access Management (IAM)
- Use endpoint security and monitoring tools designed for cloud environments
- Ensure employees are properly educated in security awareness and cloud usage
- Auditing and reviewing the configuration of the cloud environment
To be proactive is to ensure your cloud is secure, not just theoretically secure.
Why Cloud Security Responsibility Matters
Even with a top-tier cloud provider, security failures usually come from the human or business side, not the infrastructure. A single misconfigured system can lead to costly breaches, regulatory penalties, and reputational damage.
By understanding your cloud security responsibility, your business gains control and reduces risk; no silver bullet is required.
Ready to Take Control of Your Cloud Security?
If your business uses cloud services but has not established a clear set of security responsibilities, it is time to take action. A consultation can help you:
- Identify weaknesses in your cloud security configuration
- Establish policies for access and permissions
- Create a proactive plan for cloud data monitoring and protection
Schedule a consultation today and make sure your cloud is secure.
