What is cloud security and why does it matter?
Cloud security protects cloud-based infrastructure, applications, and data by applying purpose-built technologies, clearly defined policies, and automated best practices. As businesses rapidly adopt cloud services to scale and innovate, securing these environments is crucial for protecting brand reputation, maintaining customer trust, ensuring compliance, and supporting continuous operations.
Cloud security matters because cloud environments are shared and evolve rapidly. Cybercriminals exploit this dynamic environment by scanning for misconfigured systems and exposed data, underscoring the critical need for cloud-specific defense strategies. To navigate this modern threat landscape, organizations must understand their role within the shared responsibility model. Many progressive enterprises are adopting a “shared fate” model, where cloud providers and organizations closely align to ensure secure outcomes together.
Read on to learn more about the key elements of cloud security and how you can protect your infrastructure today.
Recorded Demo: How Wiz Detects & Fixes Risks in Real-Time
This 12-minute walkthrough shows you how our Security Graph correlates runtime alerts with cloud context to identify the root cause, find the resource owner, and provide one-click remediation.
Core pillars of cloud security
A strong cloud security foundation includes the following core pillars:
Confidentiality, integrity, and availability: These three principles ensure that data is accessible only to authorized users, remains unaltered, and is available when organizations need it.
Data protection: Encryption, masking, and tokenization protect data in transit and at rest, while backups and disaster recovery plans ensure resilience against outages and data breaches.
Identity and access management (IAM): Robust controls—including role-based access control, multi-factor authentication, and session monitoring—strictly limit access to cloud environments.
Compliance and governance: Automated frameworks and continuous monitoring enabled by robust cloud security controls help organizations meet regulatory requirements like HIPAA, PCI, and GDPR.
Workload visibility and risk assessment: Cloud environments require deep visibility into the security posture of workloads, services, and interdependencies to identify and prioritize security risks.
Threat detection and response: Real-time monitoring enables rapid detection and remediation of vulnerabilities and active threats.
Security architecture: Effective security strategies depend on secure design patterns for deploying, segmenting, and monitoring services, grounded in foundational cloud security architecture principles.
Zero trust as a security pillar
Zero trust is a crucial principle in IAM. It assumes no user or system is trustworthy by default, even if they’re already inside the network. This precaution is critical, as human error and negligence account for 80% of data breaches. In cloud environments, this model emphasizes the following attributes:
Least-privilege access
Continuous verification of identities
Device- and context-aware access controls
Microsegmentation to prevent lateral movement
Zero trust is essential in distributed, hybrid, and multi-cloud setups where users and resources span geographies and platforms. These environments expand the threat landscape by time, location, and device.
How cloud security works across service and deployment models
Understanding cloud security starts with grasping two key model types:
Cloud service model: Determines the level of control and management you have over your cloud resources
Cloud deployment model: Defines where and how you host cloud environments and who can access them
Read on to explore how these models work:
Cloud service models and use cases
| Service Model | Description | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Software as a Service (SaaS) | The cloud provider hosts SaaS applications, and its customers access them over the internet. Customers don’t control the underlying infrastructure or platform. | Google Workspace, Microsoft Office 365, Salesforce, and Dropbox |
| Platform as a Service (PaaS) | PaaS provides customers with a platform for developing, deploying, and managing their own applications. Customers retain some control over configurations, but aren’t required to manage the underlying infrastructure directly. | Google App Engine, Microsoft Azure App Service, Heroku, and Red Hat OpenShift |
| Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) | IaaS grants customers access to computing, storage, and networking resources to build and manage their own infrastructure. Customers retain full control over the underlying infrastructure and platform. | Amazon EC2, Microsoft Azure VMs, Google Compute Engine, and DigitalOcean Droplets |
Cloud deployments and use cases:
| Cloud Deployment Model | Description | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Public | A third party provides its customers with a shared cloud computing environment that delivers resources like servers, storage, and applications. | AWS, Google Cloud, and Azure |
| Private | Customers maintain a dedicated cloud computing environment for exclusive use, with infrastructure hosted either on-site or by a third-party provider. | On-premises data center, third-party provider like VNet |
| Hybrid | Customers combine public and private models to optimize performance and reduce costs. This approach increases autonomy, scalability, and operational agility. | Private clouds in combination with public providers like Google Cloud, AWS, VMware, OCI, Azure, and Alibaba |
When selecting the cloud deployment type and service model that best meet your needs, you should weigh key factors, including the size and complexity of your IT environment, your budget, specific application requirements, and your preferred level of shared responsibility.
Consider the following deployment model scenarios:
Organization A (Hybrid cloud model + SaaS): Adopts a hybrid model by using SaaS applications like Google Workspace for productivity and collaboration while keeping sensitive workloads and critical data on-premises in a private cloud. This strategy combines the convenience and scalability of cloud-based services with strict control and compliance for confidential or regulated data.
Organization B (Public deployment model + PaaS): Adopts a public model using PaaS. By building applications on Google App Engine, the team avoids server management, enabling them to deploy functions quickly and scale automatically as traffic grows.
The deployment model you select depends on how much control you want over your data security, where and how you want to host the environment, and who you want to grant access to.
New security needs, but old solutions
In the Future of Tech podcast episode “Cyber Threats and Cloud Security,” Wiz co-founder and CTO Ami Luttwak uses Tesla to illustrate the current state of cloud security.
At first glance, a Tesla looks like a standard car. But examine its components—like the front trunk, computer, and design—and you realize it’s fundamentally different from the vehicles you’re used to. It’s an entirely different product with an intentional design for every component.
Luttwak applies this concept to cloud security. “When we looked at cloud security, we saw that all of the tools used a few years ago were basically the traditional tools [...] but just adapted to the cloud,” he says. “The cloud is so vastly different than anything we’ve seen before. So how should security look for the cloud? [...] First, we have to understand the complexities of the cloud, understand why it’s different, and then reimagine how security solutions for the cloud should look.”
This deconstruction of cybersecurity in the context of the cloud calls for adaptations across people, processes, and technology:
People: There’s often a knowledge gap between traditional cybersecurity developers and cloud security teams. Address this by recruiting specialized cloud experts and providing continuous cloud training.
Processes: Organizations must collaborate with developers, solutions providers, and internal teams to understand the risks unique to cloud environments, such as the transient nature of locations and devices.
Technology: Cloud environments include hundreds of services and multiple computing methods that evolve rapidly. Legacy tools typically monitor specific components, such as container security solutions or cloud security posture management (CSPM), creating blind spots across the entire cloud. Instead, adopt innovative tech built explicitly for the cloud.
What’s the value of tech built just for the cloud? In the podcast, Luttwak explains, “The cloud is so complex, you need a [platform] that understands all [its pillars].” Platforms like Wiz integrate visibility, real-time threat detection, and automation to manage the full scope of cloud security.
Risks with cloud environments
Many organizations struggle to secure their cloud environments due to a combination of complexity, silos, and outdated tools. Misalignment among security, DevOps, and compliance teams often creates high-level gaps, resulting in incomplete visibility, inconsistent policy enforcement, and excessive manual workflows.
Specific risks and threats include the following:
Misconfigurations: Human error often exposes systems to public access or disables encryption.
Insider threats: Malicious actions or negligent behavior by users with privileged access compromise security.
API vulnerabilities: Attackers exploit poorly secured APIs to bypass controls.
Compliance failures: Gaps in governance or monitoring lead to regulatory violations.
Insecure interfaces and system vulnerabilities: Unpatched components create paths for attackers to exploit.
Encryption gaps and weak identity management: These flaws create vulnerabilities that allow unauthorized access to sensitive data.
Fragmented responsibility compounds these challenges. Silos across Dev, SecOps, AppSec, and GRC teams hinder collaboration and create blind spots. Effective security solutions must bridge these gaps and unify efforts across stakeholders.
To start, categorize cloud security threats into intrinsic and extrinsic risks. These categories help you determine whether risks originate from the cloud architecture itself or from external factors such as users and other systems.
Review this breakdown of intrinsic and extrinsic threats:
| Intrinsic threats | Extrinsic threats |
|---|---|
| Insecure interfaces and APIs: Cloud providers offer various interfaces and APIs that allow customers to manage their cloud resources. Attackers can exploit APIs if they aren’t secure. | Misconfigurations: These primarily occur due to human error, lack of understanding, rushed deployments, or simple oversight. I.e., users’ or administrators’ external actions result in improper settings. |
| Lack of visibility: It can be challenging for cloud customers to have complete visibility into their cloud environment. This can make it difficult to identify and respond to security threats. | Phishing attacks and account hijacking: Phishing attacks, which use methods like credential harvesting and business email compromise, are common ways attackers to access cloud accounts. Attackers can also gain access to a user's cloud service credentials and misuse the account. This is known as account hijacking |
| Multi-tenancy: Since cloud platforms often serve multiple clients on shared resources, there's a risk that one tenant's activities might negatively affect others. | Malware attacks: These attacks, which infect servers, virtual machines, and cloud systems, can result in severe compromises. Attackers can steal data, disrupt operations, or exploit resources for malicious purposes. |
| System vulnerabilities: If your team or provider doesn’t patch risks regularly, cloud infrastructure components may have security vulnerabilities that attackers can exploit. | Zero-day attacks and supply chain attacks: Zero-day events are complicated to defend against since they exploit unknown vulnerabilities before your devs have a chance to create and distribute a patch.Supply chain attacks target third-party vendors' cloud providers. If the vendor is compromised, attackers can access cloud customer data. |
| Confusing shared responsibility model: Cloud providers are responsible for the security of the infrastructure, but cloud customers are responsible for protecting their data and applications. This can create confusion and may lead to security gaps. | Insider threats: These threats can occur when malicious employees or contractors intentionally misuse their access to cloud resources. |
Security Leaders Handbook
The strategic guide to cloud security
Real-world example: The 2025 SonicWall breach
In September 2025, SonicWall experienced a security breach linked to state-sponsored threat actors. Attackers exploited a vulnerability to access firewall configuration cloud backup files through an API call. The incident exposed backup data from a specific cloud environment, affecting all customers.
This breach highlights the growing sophistication of threats targeting cloud environments. It also underscores common issues detailed in Wiz’s Cloud Security 101, particularly the importance of the following areas:
API security: APIs remain a critical attack vector. Without authentication, monitoring, or rate limiting, they become entry points for attackers.
Incident response readiness: Organizations must maintain a well-prepared response plan that includes detection, containment, forensics, and recovery to reduce the impact of breaches and accelerate remediation.
Security posture management: Teams must proactively harden security posture, especially when customers share cloud infrastructure.
How to build a modern cloud security strategy
To strengthen your security posture, you need a strategy that unifies traditional cybersecurity principles with modern approaches tailored to emerging threats and new technologies. Here are four steps to building a robust cloud security strategy:
1. Align security with business goals
In many organizations, securing buy-in for cloud security initiatives can be challenging, especially when the business impact is unclear. To promote adoption, teams must connect security priorities to business outcomes like uptime, customer trust, compliance, and innovation velocity.
For example, shifting security left supports faster development, prevents downtime, and improves compliance. Jeremy Smith, VP of information security at Avery Dennison, explains, “Security cannot be a blocker. Our cloud journey is revolutionizing the company, so it’s critical we’re able to secure it.”
By showing how security drives business value, you can secure leadership buy-in and prove how your progress fuels growth rather than slows it.
2. Shift left with DevSecOps
Effective cloud security starts early in development. DevSecOps integrates security into the DevOps pipeline, making it a shared responsibility. This integration allows teams to detect misconfigurations and vulnerabilities before deployment.
Your team can track and improve security collaboration using these shared metrics and actions:
Reduce open security tickets during development.
Minimize time-to-deploy while fixing issues pre-release.
Improve time-to-remediate via clear ownership and collaboration.
Decrease security test and audit failures by aligning priorities.
Embed tools and automation into CI/CD workflows to ensure your team ships secure code without delaying delivery.
3. Automate and consolidate security tools
Manual security processes can’t keep up with the pace of cloud development, driven by rapid innovations like AI and emerging threats. Use automation to reduce response times, prevent alert fatigue, and enhance workflow efficiency.
Teams should consolidate fragmented tools to avoid visibility gaps that obscure security threats. Platforms like Wiz unify misconfiguration detection, vulnerability management, identity security, and threat detection in one place. This single source of truth helps teams prioritize the most critical risks and simplifies compliance. These capabilities must also extend to runtime security in cloud environments to account for dynamic workloads and shifting risk.
4. Foster a culture of security ownership
Security isn't just the security operation center’s job. Everyone, from developers to compliance officers, must understand their role in securing your infrastructure.
Organizations should take the following actions to create a culture of security through cloud security best practices:
Provide ongoing training curated for each role.
Run simulations to show how attacks unfold and how to respond.
Encourage gamification and reward proactive behavior.
Building a culture of shared responsibility enables organizations to move from reactive firefighting to proactive risk management. That shift reduces human error and strengthens long-term security resilience.
Types of cloud security solutions
Cloud security solutions vary based on what they protect and how they integrate. Compare common solution types below:
| Solution type | Focus | Benefits | Limitations |
|---|---|---|---|
| CSPM | Configurations and compliance | Identifies misconfigurations | Fragmented visibility |
| CWPP | Workload protection | Scans VMs and containers | Agent-based architecture |
| CIEM | Identity entitlement management | Detects excessive permissions | Lacks contextual insight |
| CDR | Detection and response | Provides threat analytics | Reactive security posture |
| CNAPP | Unified platform for cloud-prioritized security measures | Delivers visibility, prioritization, and automation | Relies on effective implementation |
Case study: Canva unlocks secure creativity at scale with Wiz
Canva, a global leader in visual communication, faced a challenge common to many fast-growing tech companies: securing a complex multi-cloud environment while maintaining speed and innovation. Its fragmented tools provided limited visibility and overwhelmed engineers with unprioritized issues, making it challenging to scale securely.
Canva turned to Wiz to consolidate its security workflows and automate its compliance processes. With Wiz’s unified security graph and real-time visibility, Canva achieved the following:
Gained 360-degree visibility across AWS and GCP environments
Prioritized and remediated critical vulnerabilities effectively
Automated and accelerated SOC 2 compliance efforts
Reduced engineering toil, enabling teams to focus on product innovation
Beyond the platform’s technical depth, its ease of deployment and broad usability made Wiz essential to Canva’s success. Its team onboarded within a week and extended access to over 100 internal users across security, compliance, and engineering.
Wiz’s CNAPP capabilities gave Canva a strategic edge in managing security at scale, empowering it to maintain a strong security posture as it expanded into enterprise markets and introduced new technologies, like AI.
This example reinforces how a unified cloud security solution like Wiz directly supports both operational efficiency and secure innovation.
Understanding a CNAPP
A CNAPP unifies cloud security capabilities into a single platform. Wiz's CNAPP, for example, integrates vulnerability management, misconfiguration detection, identity security, and real-time threat detection with context.
Our platform uses AI and ML to deliver the following security measures:
Prioritize critical issues.
Reduce noise and eliminate false positives.
Identify attack paths.
Discover Shadow AI and misconfigurations in ML pipelines.
The AI-powered approach helps secure the full generative AI lifecycle in cloud environments. More broadly, our work defining top cloud security solutions demonstrates how CNAPPs outperform fragmented point products.
Wiz provides agentless, full-stack visibility across clouds and offers fast time-to-value with an intuitive UI. That’s why our solution is the leading CNAPP, trusted by more than 50% of Fortune 100 companies.
Is your cloud security workflow working for you?
Security workflows should reduce risk and enhance collaboration. Your workflow is failing if alerts go uninvestigated, policies remain unenforced, or teams waste time pointing fingers instead of remediating threats.
A functional cloud security workflow unites your teams around a shared view of risk. It enables proactive, efficient, and continuous protection through automation. With Wiz, organizations build secure cloud environments faster, with clarity and control.
Download Wiz’s Cloud Security Workflow Handbook today to transform your security team, processes, and toolset for a safer multi-cloud environment.
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FAQ
Below are common questions about cloud security.