3.2 Compare security responsibility for the different cloud service models
📘CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701)
1. What Is Security Assessment in the Cloud?
A security assessment in the cloud is the process of checking, testing, and reviewing how secure a cloud environment is.
The goal is to identify security weaknesses, misconfigurations, policy gaps, and risks that could lead to data breaches, service disruption, or unauthorized access.
In cloud environments, security assessment is very important because:
- Resources are shared
- Infrastructure is dynamic
- Responsibility is shared between the cloud provider and the customer
Security assessments help ensure that security controls are working correctly and that the organization is meeting security and compliance requirements.
2. Why Security Assessment Is Important in the Cloud
Security assessment is required to:
- Protect data stored in the cloud
- Prevent unauthorized access
- Identify misconfigured services
- Ensure compliance with regulations
- Validate security responsibilities
- Reduce the risk of attacks
Cloud services can change quickly. New virtual machines, storage, and applications can be created in minutes. Security assessments help detect problems before attackers do.
3. Shared Responsibility and Security Assessment
Security assessments in the cloud depend on the cloud service model.
Cloud Provider Responsibilities:
- Physical data center security
- Underlying hardware
- Core cloud infrastructure
- Availability of security tools
Customer Responsibilities:
- Configuration of services
- Identity and access management
- Data protection
- Application security
- Monitoring and logging
Security assessments focus mainly on the customer’s responsibilities, not the provider’s internal infrastructure.
4. Types of Security Assessments in the Cloud
Cloud security assessments are usually divided into four main types.
4.1 Configuration and Architecture Review
This assessment checks how cloud resources are configured.
It looks for:
- Open storage buckets
- Publicly exposed virtual machines
- Weak firewall rules
- Improper network segmentation
- Unrestricted management access
Examples in IT environments:
- Virtual machines with open management ports
- Cloud storage accessible from the internet
- Security groups allowing traffic from any IP address
- Lack of encryption on storage services
This is one of the most common cloud security failures.
4.2 Vulnerability Assessment
A vulnerability assessment scans cloud resources to identify:
- Missing patches
- Known software vulnerabilities
- Weak system configurations
Common targets:
- Virtual machines
- Containers
- Operating systems
- Web applications
- Databases
Important points:
- Cloud providers may restrict scanning their infrastructure
- Customers must follow provider rules
- Only scan resources you own
Vulnerability scanning tools are often cloud-native or agent-based.
4.3 Penetration Testing (Pen Testing)
Penetration testing is a controlled attack simulation used to test how secure cloud services are.
It helps answer:
- Can an attacker break into the system?
- Can they escalate privileges?
- Can they access sensitive data?
Important cloud rules:
- Cloud providers must allow the test
- Some attacks are not permitted
- Testing is limited to customer-owned resources
Pen testing focuses on:
- Web applications
- APIs
- Authentication systems
- Network exposure
4.4 Compliance and Audit Assessment
This assessment ensures that the cloud environment meets security standards and regulations.
Common compliance frameworks:
- ISO 27001
- SOC 2
- PCI DSS
- HIPAA
- GDPR
Focus areas:
- Data encryption
- Access control
- Logging and monitoring
- Incident response readiness
- Security policies
Cloud providers supply compliance reports, but customers must ensure:
- Their configurations are compliant
- Their applications follow security rules
5. Cloud-Native Security Assessment Tools
Cloud platforms provide built-in security tools to help with assessments.
These tools typically provide:
- Security posture management
- Risk scoring
- Configuration recommendations
- Threat detection alerts
- Compliance checks
Common capabilities:
- Detect misconfigured storage
- Identify overly permissive access
- Monitor unusual login behavior
- Alert on unencrypted data
These tools are designed for cloud environments, unlike traditional on-prem tools.
6. Identity and Access Review
Identity is one of the most critical areas in cloud security.
Security assessments must review:
- User permissions
- Role assignments
- Service accounts
- API access keys
Key security checks:
- Least privilege access
- No unused accounts
- Multi-factor authentication (MFA)
- Secure key management
Many cloud breaches happen due to:
- Over-privileged accounts
- Stolen access keys
- Mismanaged identities
7. Logging, Monitoring, and Visibility
A security assessment checks whether:
- Logs are enabled
- Logs are protected from deletion
- Monitoring is active
- Alerts are configured
Important logs include:
- Authentication logs
- API activity logs
- Network flow logs
- Resource configuration changes
Without proper logging:
- Attacks cannot be detected
- Incidents cannot be investigated
8. Data Protection Assessment
Data is one of the most valuable assets in the cloud.
Security assessments verify:
- Data encryption at rest
- Data encryption in transit
- Backup policies
- Data access permissions
Key areas:
- Database encryption
- Storage encryption
- Key management systems
- Secure data deletion
9. Continuous Security Assessment
Cloud security is not a one-time activity.
Because cloud environments change frequently:
- New resources are added
- Permissions change
- Applications are updated
Security assessments must be:
- Continuous
- Automated where possible
- Integrated with monitoring tools
Continuous assessment helps:
- Detect new risks quickly
- Maintain compliance
- Improve overall security posture
10. Key Exam Points to Remember (350-701)
For the exam, remember:
- Security assessment identifies risks and weaknesses
- Responsibility is shared between provider and customer
- Customers assess their configurations and services
- Common assessments include:
- Configuration review
- Vulnerability scanning
- Penetration testing
- Compliance audits
- Cloud providers offer native security tools
- Identity and access management is a critical focus
- Continuous assessment is required in cloud environments
11. Summary
Security assessment in the cloud is the process of evaluating security controls, configurations, and risks in a cloud environment.
It helps organizations secure data, maintain compliance, and reduce attack risks.
Because cloud environments are dynamic and shared, security assessments must be:
- Clearly scoped
- Provider-approved
- Focused on customer responsibilities
- Performed continuously
Understanding this topic is essential for passing the CCNP Security (350-701) exam and for designing secure cloud environments.
