Compliance
Definition
In the context of cloud computing, compliance refers to meeting the requirements of various laws, regulations, and standards that apply to an organization's data and workloads. This can include industry-specific standards like HIPAA (for healthcare) or PCI DSS (for payments), as well as data privacy laws like GDPR.
Why It Matters
For many organizations, especially in regulated industries, compliance is a non-negotiable requirement. They must be able to prove to auditors that their use of the cloud meets all relevant security and privacy standards.
Contextual Example
A healthcare company using AWS must ensure that its configuration of AWS services is compliant with HIPAA regulations to protect patient data. Cloud providers offer services and documentation to help customers achieve compliance.
Common Misunderstandings
- A cloud provider can be "compliant," but the customer is ultimately responsible for ensuring their application and data are managed in a compliant way within the cloud.
- Achieving compliance in the cloud is a shared responsibility.