CompTIA Cloud+ Practice Test

Who is ultimately responsible for the security of customer data stored in the cloud?

1. Cloud customer

2. Cloud provider

3. Compliance agency

4. Shared responsibility

The correct answer is: Cloud customer

The correct response highlights the critical role that cloud customers play in maintaining the security of their data stored in the cloud. While cloud providers invest heavily in security measures and infrastructure, it is ultimately the responsibility of customers to configure and manage their cloud environments appropriately. Cloud customers must understand the shared responsibility model, which delineates the security obligations of both providers and customers. Providers are generally responsible for the security of the infrastructure that runs the cloud services, while customers are accountable for securing their applications, data, and user access within that infrastructure. This means customers must implement necessary protections such as data encryption, identity and access management, and regular security assessments to safeguard their own information. If security vulnerabilities or data breaches occur due to a failure on the part of the customer to manage their security posture effectively, they bear the ultimate responsibility for those lapses. Moreover, while compliance agencies and regulatory frameworks set standards for security and data handling, they do not take on the active role of ensuring data protection; rather, they establish guidelines which the cloud customer must adhere to. Understanding this division of responsibilities is essential for anyone leveraging cloud services, making it critical for cloud customers to take ownership of their data security.