Home Learn Cloud Data Security What Is Data Security in Cloud Computing? Challenges, requirements, and best practices for data protection in the cloud. Request demo Cloud Data Security Overview Definition Key Components Challenges Best Practices Looking Forward Related Terms Resources Overview Ensuring Cloud Data Security Keeping data safe is a critical priority wherever it’s stored, used, and processed, but data security in cloud computing environments calls for heightened vigilance. As organizations move to public, private, and hybrid cloud environments, their attack surface expands significantly – and so do the threats and regulatory requirements they face. Risk management in cloud computing hinges on comprehensive measures to prevent data breaches and compliance violations. Let’s dive into the essential technologies, policies, and practices for cloud data security. Definition Understanding Cloud Data Security Broadly speaking, the aim of data security is to protect digital information from unauthorized access, corruption, theft, or disclosure throughout its entire lifecycle. Measures like encryption, access control, data loss prevention, and regulatory compliance help organizations mitigate risk while still leveraging the full value of their data assets. In the cloud era, data security has taken on additional complexity. Companies that rely on multiple cloud service providers (CSPs), diverse technologies, and distributed storage locations often struggle to maintain consistent security policies and visibility across all platforms. Interconnected cloud services, cloud-native development practices, API, third-party integrations, and constantly-changing containerized applications can open new vulnerabilities in the blink of an eye. Rapidly evolving regulatory compliance requirements add yet another layer to the challenge, as companies grapple with a patchwork of data security and privacy rules across different jurisdictions. None of these risks should be seen as an argument against storing data in the cloud. But as companies move to harness the benefits of the cloud, cloud data security must be a top priority. Key considerations for data security in cloud computing include: • Rising cyber threats – As the frequency and sophistication of cyberattacks continues to escalate, 80 percent of companies have seen a rise in cloud attacks of all kinds, and nearly half have experienced a cloud data breach. The broad and difficult-to-secure attack surface of a modern hybrid cloud infrastructure offers an inviting target for cybercriminals, and they’re taking full advantage of the opportunity. • Compliance violations – Regulations like GDPR, CCPA, PCI DSS, and HIPAA impose strict requirements on how companies handle, store, and protect sensitive data. Compliance becomes especially challenging when data is stored across multiple cloud environments, which makes it harder to maintain consistent controls. Failure to meet these standards can result in substantial fines and legal consequences. • Trust and reputation – Security incidents of any kind can have a devastating impact on a company’s public image, and the theft of personal information – including financial and health data – is particularly damaging. Businesses that have been breached often face a loss of customer confidence and business opportunities as well as a drop in stock price. • Continuous business and operational resilience – Attacks like ransomware can bring business to a halt. Risk management in cloud computing includes not only preventing, detecting, and responding to attacks, but also enabling rapid and full recovery when attackers do breach defenses. Key Components Key Components of Data Security in the Cloud Many essential elements of data security in cloud computing are similar to those for on-premises environments, but it’s important to understand the nuances introduced by cloud data environments. • Data encryption – In on-premises environments, organizations have full control over their encryption processes and key management. However, encryption in cloud settings – both at rest and in transit – is often managed either entirely or in part by the CSP. This can be both stronger and simpler to implement, but it also allows less control for the company’s own security team. • Access control – Strong authentication mechanisms like multi-factor authentication (MFA) and role-based access control (RBAC) are vital for both security and regulatory compliance. In cloud environments, these controls can be managed using cloud-based platforms, a more scalable, flexible, and convenient approach – as long as your internet connection stays up. • Data loss prevention (DLP) – Monitoring and preventing unauthorized data exfiltration becomes more difficult when data is distributed across multiple cloud platforms, services, and applications, often depending on API-based integrations. The shared security model, in which CSPs and customers each take on different data protection responsibilities, also can call for a different approach to data classification and compliance management than on-premises DLP. • Network security – While on-premises environments allow security teams to take direct control of their physical infrastructure, network security in a cloud environment depends in large part on the CSP. Companies do gain benefits such as automated security updates, scalable firewalls, and unified threat management across multiple locations, but they also face heightened requirements for securing data in transit to and from cloud platforms. • Continuous monitoring – Cloud platforms often include capabilities such as fully automated and managed monitoring for real-time visibility without the need for manual intervention. Advanced features like centralized dashboards and security analytics can make enterprise-class monitoring accessible for even smaller organizations. On the other hand, many organizations still struggle with visibility into their cloud environments, making it difficult to detect suspicious activities. • Compliance management – As discussed above, tracking and verifying adherence to myriad data protection regulations and industry standards can be a major effort in cloud environments. Beyond measures for data protection and privacy, organizations also must be aware of data sovereignty requirements stipulating the geographies where specific data may or may not be stored or processed. • Patch management – As in on-premises environments, risk management in cloud computing includes timely software updates and patches to address vulnerabilities. Cloud platforms typically offer automated patching, but they also can limit visibility into the process. Under the shared responsibility model, CSPs manage patching for infrastructure and platforms while companies handle vulnerability management for applications and data. • Incident response – The dynamic nature of cloud environments calls for more agile incident response processes than in on-premises environments. Security teams must move quickly to diagnose incidents and contain potential attacks across complex hybrid architectures. At the same time, companies may have limited direct access to some logs and rely on specialized tools for analysis. • Backup and recovery – Distributed systems, dynamic resources, and shared responsibility models can make it far more difficult to maintain continuous business following data loss or system failures. In cloud environments, companies often turn to advanced capabilities like automated discovery and mapping of cloud resource dependencies. On the other hand, the ability to recover data into an instantly provisioned, clean recovery environment can greatly improve resilience and facilitate forensic analysis. • API security – APIs of any kind can allow potential exploitation – but in cloud environments, APIs are exposed to the public internet and interconnected with a greater variety of systems, making the risk that much greater. • Security assessments – Regular evaluations, penetration testing, and other assessment measures are as critical in cloud environments as they are on-premises. Challenges Common Cloud Data Security Challenges The Shared Responsibility Model:As companies consider their approach to protecting cloud data, one of the first hurdles they face is a seemingly simple question: Who is responsible for cloud data security? This brings us to the shared responsibility model – a framework that defines the security obligations of both CSPs and their customers. Understanding how these responsibilities are divided is critical for data protection in the cloud. At a high level, the shared responsibility model puts the CSP in charge of the security of its own cloud, including the physical infrastructure, network, and hardware that support its cloud services. This leaves the customer to handle security in the cloud – in other words, securing its data, applications, and workloads deployed within the cloud environment through data encryption, access management, and various other configurations. While the shared responsibility model might seem straightforward, many organizations still struggle to understand it – especially given that different cloud service models (Infrastructure as a Service [IaaS], Platform as a Service [PaaS], and Software as a Service [SaaS]) delineate responsibilities differently. Security teams also need a deep understanding of the security tools and configurations provided by each CSP their organization uses, and to maintain continuous awareness of any changes in CSP infrastructure or services. Ultimately, the shared responsibility model makes it all too easy for security gaps to creep in. Data Breaches and Threats:Cloud data breaches come in many forms. One of the most common causes is misconfiguration, when improperly set-up cloud resources leave vulnerabilities for attackers to exploit. Weak access controls such as inadequate authentication methods or excessive permissions can make it easier for attackers to infiltrate cloud environments, exfiltrate sensitive information, or manipulate data without being detected. Improperly secured or poorly designed APIs can provide entry points for attackers to access cloud resources and data. Insider threats can be one of the most difficult challenges to address. Employees or contractors with legitimate access to cloud resources can abuse their privileges for data theft, sabotage, or other malicious acts. Even without ill intent, inadvertent human error can be a significant risk; many breaches arise from employees oversharing files, falling victim to phishing attacks, or otherwise exposing sensitive data. Compliance Challenges:Many of the issues discussed above also come to play in the context of regulatory compliance for cloud data. For example: • Shared responsibility confusion – Under the shared responsibility model, many businesses mistakenly believe that compliance is solely the CSP’s responsibility, leading to potential vulnerabilities and non-compliance issues. • Multi-cloud complexity – For companies using a multi-cloud strategy, each CSP may have different compliance capabilities, certifications, and data handling practices, making it hard to maintain a consistent compliance posture across all platforms. • Data sovereignty issues – Regulations often require that data be stored within specific geographic boundaries. Compliance with this rule becomes more difficult when data is distributed, transferred, or replicated across different CSPs and data centers locations. • Evolving regulatory landscape – Every year, new laws and standards impose additional requirements on companies – often involving strict data handling and privacy requirements that can be difficult to implement in cloud settings. • Monitoring and reporting difficulties – Consistent compliance depends on effective monitoring and reporting. Organizations need to generate comprehensive audit trails and detailed reports, a highly demanding undertaking given the vast amount of log data generated in dynamic cloud environments. Best Practices 6 Cloud Data Security Best Practices Data security in cloud computing environments is neither simple nor easy. Still, a few key measures can go a long way to strengthen your cloud data security posture. 1. Enhanced encryption standards – Encryption is a core requirement to safeguard data both at rest and in transit. Strong encryption algorithms like AES-256 can help confirm that even if data falls into the wrong hands, it will remain unreadable. In addition to protecting data, end-to-end encryption across the data lifecycle also facilitates compliance with regulations like GDPR and HIPAA, which mandate strict data protection measures. 2. Continuous monitoring – Continuous monitoring is critical for detecting and responding to security threats in real time. Advanced analytics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence can help you analyze network traffic and user behavior to identify anomalies that may indicate a breach. 3. Alignment with standards – Established governance standards from organizations such as ISO/IEC, NIST, and CIS provide a proven framework for data security in cloud computing environments. Encompassing areas like data encryption, access control, and incident response planning, these frameworks can not only mitigate risks but also build trust with clients and stakeholders by showing your commitment to data security best practices. 4. Strong user authentication – Measures like MFA, biometric authentication, and hardware security keys significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access. 5. Secure APIs – APIs are the plumbing of modern cloud environments. Authentication tokens, input data validation, and RBAC can help you keep attackers out. 6. Rapid recovery – In cybersecurity, it’s safest to assume that the worst will happen. Cyber resilience should be a cornerstone of every cloud data security strategy. By verifying that you can quickly restore your entire cloud application and data environment after a cyberattack or service outage, you can minimize downtime and maintain continuous business in the face of evolving cyber threats. Looking forward The Future of Data Security in Cloud Computing While attackers today are known for continuous innovation and rising sophistication, so are defenders. Here are a few key trends that will reshape the cloud data security landscape in the near future. Emerging Technologies AI and machine learning already are enhancing cloud security by automating threat detection and response. By analyzing vast amounts of data in real time, AI-enabled tools can identify anomalies and potential breaches with unprecedented speed and accuracy so organizations can proactively mitigate risks before they escalate into serious incidents. The rapid evolution of quantum computing promises another opportunity to strengthen security. As traditional encryption methods face growing vulnerabilities, quantum-resistant encryption algorithms that help enable long-term data security in cloud environments (including protection against the inevitable quantum attacks) will become critical. Meanwhile, confidential computing allows organizations to perform computations on encrypted data without exposing it, protecting sensitive information even from insiders or compromised environments. Future Regulatory Changes Regulatory mandates continue to grow more detailed and demanding. As governments introduce more stringent data localization and surveillance laws, organizations will need to manage cross-data border flows more granularly. New regulations also likely will emphasize stronger encryption, both in transit and at rest; more robust access controls; AI-specific security measures; and quantum-resistant encryption algorithms. Continuous auditing and monitoring systems will be essential to track these changes and maintain compliance across jurisdictions. New Security Models Zero trust has gained rapid adoption as a model to shrink the attack surface, detect and respond to breaches more quickly, and limit the impact of security incidents. We can expect zero trust to continue to evolve and expand to become a universal standard for cybersecurity. Now cybersecurity mesh may see a similar rise. By creating a flexible and distributed security framework that integrates security services across multiple environments, organizations can manage security policies centrally while adapting to the unique needs of different cloud platforms. With constantly changing threats, complex requirements, and continual innovation, the cloud security landscape can be a challenging place to work. But with a full understanding of its requirements and nuances, consistently applied best practices, and a keen eye to emerging trends and technologies, security teams can make cloud computing safe for their organization and its data. Related Terms What is Data Loss Prevention (DPL)? Data loss prevention (DLP) is part of a company’s security policy to prevent the loss, leakage, misuse, or access of data by unauthorized parties. Learn more What is a Data Clean Room? Cleanroom recovery provides security teams with an isolated environment to perform investigations, find gaps in defenses, and safely recover data without risk of contamination. Learn more What is Continuous Data Protection? Continuous data protection enables all changes to be documented and minimizes data loss following cyberattacks, outages, or failures. Learn more related resources Explore related resources View all resources Solution Brief DORA Compliance with Confidence The Pure Storage and Commvault solution helps financial institutions address the most stringent DORA requirements. on-demand webinar Building Cyber Resilience: A Roadmap to Compliance Confidence Expert panel shares insights on how organizations can navigate intricate landscapes and ensure compliance with confidence. Datasheet Commvault Cloud Compliance Reduce time and costs for eDiscovery, facilitate efficient compliance, and ensure relevant legal data remains unaltered.