3.2 Compare security responsibility for the different cloud service models
📘CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701)
1. What Is Patch Management?
Patch management is the process of:
- Identifying software vulnerabilities or bugs
- Applying updates (patches) to fix:
- Security weaknesses
- Software bugs
- Performance issues
- Verifying that systems remain secure and stable after updates
In a cloud environment, patch management responsibility is shared between:
- The cloud service provider (CSP)
- The cloud customer
Who is responsible depends on the cloud service model:
- IaaS
- PaaS
- SaaS
This is a key exam concept.
2. Why Patch Management Is Important in Cloud Security
Unpatched systems can lead to:
- Exploitation of known vulnerabilities
- Malware infections
- Data breaches
- Compliance violations
For the exam, remember:
Most cloud attacks happen due to misconfiguration or unpatched systems, not cloud provider failures.
3. Shared Responsibility Model (Exam Core Concept)
Cloud security follows a shared responsibility model:
- The cloud provider secures the cloud infrastructure
- The customer secures what they deploy and configure inside the cloud
Patch management responsibilities change based on how much control the customer has.
4. Patch Management Responsibilities by Cloud Service Model
4.1 Patch Management in IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service)
Examples of IaaS Components:
- Virtual machines (VMs)
- Virtual networks
- Storage volumes
- Firewalls
Cloud Provider Responsibilities:
The provider patches:
- Physical data center facilities
- Physical servers
- Storage hardware
- Networking hardware
- Hypervisor (virtualization layer)
Customer Responsibilities:
The customer must patch:
- Operating systems (Windows, Linux)
- Installed applications
- Middleware
- Runtime environments
- Security software (antivirus, agents)
Key Exam Point:
In IaaS, customers are responsible for OS and application patching.
Why?
Because the customer has:
- Full control of the VM
- Administrative access to the OS
Common IaaS Patch Management Tasks:
- Applying OS security updates
- Updating web servers and databases
- Scheduling patch windows
- Testing patches before production
- Automating patching using cloud tools
4.2 Patch Management in PaaS (Platform as a Service)
Examples of PaaS Components:
- Application runtime environments
- Managed databases
- Application frameworks
- Middleware platforms
Cloud Provider Responsibilities:
The provider patches:
- Operating system
- Runtime environment
- Middleware
- Managed database engines
- Platform services
Customer Responsibilities:
The customer patches:
- Application code
- Application libraries
- Third-party dependencies used in the application
Key Exam Point:
In PaaS, the cloud provider handles OS and platform patching, while the customer patches application code.
Why?
Because:
- The customer does not manage the OS
- The platform abstracts infrastructure details
Common PaaS Patch Management Tasks:
- Updating application frameworks
- Patching software libraries
- Fixing vulnerabilities in custom code
- Testing applications after platform updates
4.3 Patch Management in SaaS (Software as a Service)
Examples of SaaS Components:
- Email services
- Collaboration platforms
- CRM systems
- File-sharing services
Cloud Provider Responsibilities:
The provider patches:
- Infrastructure
- Operating systems
- Applications
- Databases
- Security components
Customer Responsibilities:
The customer:
- Has no patching responsibility
- Focuses on:
- User access control
- Configuration settings
- Data protection
- Identity management
Key Exam Point:
In SaaS, patch management is fully handled by the cloud provider.
Why?
Because:
- The customer only uses the application
- No access to OS or application internals
5. Patch Management Comparison Table (Very Important for Exam)
| Cloud Model | Provider Patches | Customer Patches |
|---|---|---|
| IaaS | Hardware, network, hypervisor | OS, applications, middleware |
| PaaS | OS, runtime, middleware, platform | Application code, libraries |
| SaaS | Everything | None (only configuration) |
6. Cloud Patch Management Challenges (Exam Awareness)
Even in the cloud, patching has challenges:
- Downtime during patching
- Compatibility issues
- Large numbers of resources
- Testing complexity
- Dependency conflicts
Exam expects you to understand:
- More control = more responsibility
- More abstraction = less patching responsibility
7. Automation and Patch Management in the Cloud
Cloud environments commonly use:
- Automated patching tools
- Scheduled updates
- Rolling updates to reduce downtime
- Centralized patch management dashboards
Key exam idea:
Cloud patch management is often automated, but responsibility does not disappear.
8. Security Risks of Poor Patch Management
Unpatched cloud systems may lead to:
- Exploited vulnerabilities
- Privilege escalation
- Data exposure
- Compliance failures
For the exam:
Customers are still responsible for patching anything they control.
9. Exam-Focused Summary (Must Remember)
- Patch management is part of the shared responsibility model
- Responsibility depends on cloud service model
- IaaS: Customer patches OS and applications
- PaaS: Customer patches application code only
- SaaS: Provider patches everything
- More control means more patching responsibility
- Poor patching = major cloud security risk
