CyberGuard dictionary / Cloud Security
Shared Responsibility Model
A division of security duties between a cloud provider and its customer.
In simple terms
A cloud provider protects some parts of the service, while customers still have security work of their own.
Technical explanation
Responsibilities vary across infrastructure, platform, and software service models and should be checked against the provider’s contract and service documentation.
The dividing line changes by service type: a provider may operate hardware and platform layers while the customer controls identities, data, and application settings. Each service's documentation and contract define the practical boundary.
Examples in practice
A cloud host protects physical servers while a customer configures account access and data permissions.
The provider repairs a failed physical host, while the customer fixes a publicly readable storage bucket it configured. Both incidents occur in the cloud, but different parties control the relevant safeguard.
Why it matters
Assuming the provider handles every control can leave customer-owned settings exposed.
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Sources and further reading
Published 2026-10-15 · Last updated 2026-10-15 · CyberGuard editorial content. Source links provide context; they do not imply endorsement.