Understand cloud computing concepts, architecture, design principles, and security concepts.
Covers cloud computing definitions, roles, characteristics, building blocks, reference architecture, security concepts, design principles, and evaluating cloud service providers.
5 minutes
5 Questions
Cloud Concepts, Architecture, and Design constitute the foundational domain of the Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP) certification. This domain establishes the vocabulary, structural frameworks, and security baselines necessary for protecting cloud environments based on standards like ISO/IEC 17788 and NIST SP 800-145.
At the conceptual level, candidates must master the five essential characteristics of cloud computing: on-demand self-service, broad network access, resource pooling, rapid elasticity, and measured service. Understanding these traits is vital for assessing risk and compliance.
Architecturally, the domain is defined by the service and deployment models. Security professionals must analyze the security implications of Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS). This analysis ties directly to the Shared Responsibility Model, a core tenet where security obligations shift between the Cloud Service Provider (CSP) and the customer depending on the service model selected. While the CSP secures the 'cloud' (infrastructure), the customer secures what is 'in' the cloud (data).
Regarding design, this domain focuses on secure cloud computing principles. This involves implementing the CIA Triad (Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability) through cryptography Key Management Systems (KMS), and Identity and Access Management (IAM). Secure design requires distinct separation between the management plane and the data plane to prevent unauthorized administrative access. Furthermore, the domain covers the 'Trusted Cloud,' emphasizing the need for hardware roots of trust (like TPMs and HSMs) and auditing mechanisms to verify that the underlying architecture meets the organization's specific security requirements and risk appetite.Cloud Concepts, Architecture, and Design constitute the foundational domain of the Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP) certification. This domain establishes the vocabulary, structural frameworks, and security baselines necessary for protecting cloud environments based on standards like IS…