Cloud security explained: What’s left exposed?

Partner Content AWS customers might assume that security is taken care of for them - however, this is a dangerous misconception. While AWS secures its infrastructure, security within an organization's cloud environment is the customer's responsibility. Think of AWS security like a secure building: AWS provides the sturdy walls and roof, but the organization is in charge of the locks, the alarm system, and ensuring that no valuable data is left exposed. In this blog, we highlight what AWS doesn't secure with real-world examples, and share key actions organizations can take to protect their AWS environments. AWS operates on a Shared Responsibility Model, where both AWS and its customers have distinct security responsibilities. AWS secures the underlying infrastructure that powers its cloud services - including hardware, software, networking, and data centers - essentially providing the "walls and roof." On the other hand, customers are responsible for securing their data, applications, and configurations within the AWS environment - the "locks on the doors" and the "alarm system." In short, AWS handles security of the cloud, while its customers are responsible for security in the cloud. Understanding this distinction is crucial to maintaining a secure environment. Customer responsibilities and actions Let's look at some real-world vulnerabilities that fall under the customer's responsibility and what actions can be taken to mitigate them. The following examples focus on two key...