Question

Difficulty: MediumCloud Architecture and Deployment Models

An enterprise security architect is mapping security governance duties across various cloud service models during a multi-cloud initiative. Match each cloud service model on the left with the customer's primary security responsibility on the right.

  • Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)Configuring guest operating system security patches, virtual machine firewalls, and installed middleware applications.
  • Platform as a Service (PaaS)Managing application code and database schemas while relying on the provider to maintain the operating system and runtime framework.
  • Software as a Service (SaaS)Configuring user identity access permissions and monitoring data access policies while the provider maintains all application code, runtime, and infrastructure.
  • Function as a Service (FaaS)Managing event trigger permissions and stateless code execution logic while the provider completely abstracts infrastructure host provisioning and scaling.

Answer

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) matches with configuring guest operating system security patches, virtual machine firewalls, and installed middleware applications. Platform as a Service (PaaS) matches with managing application code and database schemas while relying on the provider to maintain the operating system and runtime framework. Software as a Service (SaaS) matches with configuring user identity access permissions and monitoring data access policies while the provider maintains all application code, runtime, and infrastructure. Function as a Service (FaaS) matches with managing event trigger permissions and stateless code execution logic while the provider completely abstracts infrastructure host provisioning and scaling.
Each cloud service model defines a distinct boundary of ownership under the shared responsibility framework. In Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), customer responsibility extends from the guest OS upward (including OS patching and virtual network security). Platform as a Service (PaaS) shifts OS and runtime maintenance to the provider, leaving code and database management to the customer. Software as a Service (SaaS) shifts application code management to the provider, leaving identity governance and data access to the customer. Function as a Service (FaaS) abstracts server infrastructure entirely, limiting customer responsibility to discrete event-driven function code.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the scope of customer control in Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS).
Identify that IaaS grants full control down to the operating system level, making OS patch management and virtual firewalls customer duties.
Under the cloud shared responsibility model for IaaS, virtualization hardware is provider-managed, but guest OS and compute configurations belong to the customer.
2
Analyze Platform as a Service (PaaS) boundaries.
Determine that PaaS abstracts OS and runtime management, limiting customer duties to code development and database management.
PaaS providers manage the framework and environment to streamline application development for enterprise developers.
3
Evaluate Software as a Service (SaaS) responsibility scope.
Recognize that SaaS offloads all application maintenance to the vendor, restricting customer duties to identity, access, and data security.
SaaS solutions deliver fully formed applications where customers only govern data and access permissions.
4
Determine Function as a Service (FaaS) responsibility.
Confirm that serverless execution removes host management completely, focusing customer effort strictly on short-lived function logic and execution triggers.
FaaS dynamic execution models isolate customer responsibility to individual units of deployed logic and authorization policies.

Key Concept

Cloud Shared Responsibility Model across Service Delivery Architecture Types
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