Navigating Cloud Security: Threats, Responsibilities, and Solutions

In an increasingly interconnected digital landscape, the reliance on cloud-based services and complex software ecosystems has ushered in an era of unprecedented convenience and efficiency. However, this reliance has also amplified the potential for widespread disruption and significant harm when security defenses falter. 

The Elements of Cloud Security

Threats

The following summaries serve as stark reminders of the evolving and multifaceted threats that organizations now face. They paint a picture of a landscape where sophisticated adversaries continually probe for weaknesses, exploiting vulnerabilities in both cutting-edge cloud technologies and legacy systems alike. These events underscore the critical importance of proactive security measures, robust monitoring, and a deep understanding of the interconnected risks inherent in modern computing environments.

Here is an example of recent computer system breaches highlighting the growing risks for organizations, particularly concerning cloud environments:

1. A significant incident at a major cloud provider involved the exposure of sensitive authentication-related information, such as digital keys and access credentials. The breach vector is believed to be a previously unknown vulnerability or a flaw in the authorization process. Despite public statements about the scope of impact, ongoing investigations suggest potential risks of further malicious activity.

2. A cloud vendor disclosed a security lapse affecting an older system that was part of a previous acquisition. This incident resulted in the theft of past user credentials, some dating back several years, which have since appeared in illicit online marketplaces. Authorities are examining the organization's responsibilities in securing outdated infrastructure.

3. A large data services company experienced substantial data exfiltration from its cloud storage. The unauthorized access was gained through compromised credentials for accessing its programming interfaces. The stolen data comprised a vast quantity of highly private records, triggering mandatory disclosures and regulatory scrutiny.

4. A software-as-a-service (SaaS) provider for the hospitality industry suffered an intrusion into its cloud-based storage systems. Over several months, attackers successfully extracted a large volume of customer data, including personal profiles and booking details for numerous hotel chains. The initial access was facilitated by compromising developer accounts through malicious software.

5. A widely utilized remote-access software was the target of a sophisticated attack, believed to be carried out by state-backed actors. The attackers successfully obtained privileged access credentials for cloud services, which could have allowed real-time control over critical systems within a major governmental financial institution. While the compromised credentials were quickly invalidated, this event underscores the broad impact of vulnerabilities in commonly used third-party services.

Cloud environments continue to attract sophisticated attackers who exploit misconfigurations, zero-day flaws, and third-party integrations. Examining recent incidents illustrates why the Shared Responsibility Model must be actively enforced by both cloud providers and customers. Executive Order 14028 further cements requirements for incident sharing, zero-trust adoption, and secure software development. Finally, many organizations engage Managed Service Providers (MSPs) to uphold their cloud security posture and compliance.

Responsibilities

Understanding the Shared Responsibility Model 

There are different layers of cloud computer services: Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS). In all three of these models, responsibility for the infrastructure’s security and reliability is shared between the cloud provider and the customer.

IaaS gives the customer the most responsibility, SaaS provides the customer with the least responsibility, and PaaS is in between. While SaaS gives the customer the least responsibility, it is important to understand that there are still responsibilities to maintain. 

An enterprise application in an IaaS environment would typically look like this:

• IaaS Provider’s Responsibility (“Security of the Cloud”): Physical data-center controls, hypervisor integrity, and network fabric

• Customer’s Responsibility (“Security in the Cloud”): Data classification and encryption, identity and access management, workload configurations, OS and application patching, and runtime protection

Customers must never assume that provider-managed components cover every layer. Missteps in configuration or patch management on the customer side remain prime attack vectors.

Executive Order 14028 and Cloud Security 

EO 14028, “Improving the Nation’s Cybersecurity” (May 12, 2021), imposes several mandates that dovetail with shared responsibility:

• FedRAMP & Zero-Trust Adoption: Federal agencies must migrate to authorized cloud services, implement zero-trust architectures (including MFA and strong encryption), and decommission legacy systems on accelerated schedules.

• Incident & Threat Sharing: Cloud and service providers supporting federal systems are required to report significant cyber incidents and threat intelligence to CISA, the FBI, and OMB, enabling rapid government-wide response.

• Secure Software Development & Supply-Chain Integrity: NIST’s Secure Software Development Framework becomes mandatory for federal-contracted developers, and CISA issues attestations for software producers, ensuring that cloud-hosted applications meet rigorous security baselines.

These directives compel both CSPs and their customers to embed continuous monitoring, rapid response, and transparency across the cloud ecosystem.

Solutions

Managed Service Providers (MSPs) 

An MSP can act as an extension of your security team to:

• Harden Cloud Configurations: Establish and enforce secure baselines for identity policies, network segmentation, and storage encryption.

• Monitor Continuously: Deploy SIEM, EDR, and behavioral analytics across cloud workloads to detect anomalies early.

• Automate Patch & Vulnerability Management: Ensure operating systems, containers, and serverless functions are consistently updated against known exploits.

• Drive Compliance & Reporting: Produce audit artifacts for standards like FedRAMP, PCI DSS, and ISO 27017, and manage evidence collection for assessments.

• Coordinate Incident Response & Threat Hunting: Provide 24/7 SOC capabilities, lead containment and forensic investigations, and liaise with cloud providers and law enforcement when needed.

Through these services, MSPs give customers confidence that their cloud infrastructure and security controls remain robust, even as threat landscapes evolve.

Navigating the Future of Cloud Security

The sample incidents—from identity-service exfiltration to supply-chain compromise—underscore that true cloud security requires joint vigilance under the Shared Responsibility Model. EO 14028 elevates this partnership by codifying zero-trust practices, incident-sharing mandates, and software-supply-chain safeguards. 

Don’t let hidden risks cloud your security. Engaging a seasoned MSP helps organizations implement these requirements, maintain continuous oversight, and rapidly recover from incidents—ultimately reinforcing trust in cloud deployments and deterring both insider and external threats.