Written by KRITIKA SINHA | IT SERVICES
If you believe your cloud provider is solely responsible for protecting your data, you are currently operating with a massive blind spot.
Amazon, Microsoft, and Google are world-class at securing their own physical data centres and the software that runs them. But the moment you upload a spreadsheet, store a customer database, or configure a virtual network, the lock on that digital door becomes your responsibility. This misunderstanding is why Gartner predicts that through 2025, 99% of cloud security failures will be the customer’s fault.
In the industry, we call this the Shared Responsibility Model. In reality, it means if your settings are wrong and you get breached, the cloud provider will point to their Terms and Conditions while your business faces the fallout.
What is data security in the cloud?
Data security in the cloud is a set of technologies, policies, and controls used to protect information stored in cloud environments from theft, leakage, or corruption. While the cloud provider secures the underlying infrastructure, the user is responsible for securing the data itself, managing who has access to it, and ensuring all configurations meet industry regulations.
The Shared Responsibility Model: Where do you stand?
The biggest risk to your business is the “gap” in the middle. Most C-suite executives assume that because they pay a premium for Azure or AWS, security is “included.” It is not.
Think of it like renting a high-security flat. The landlord is responsible for the front door, the structural integrity of the building, and the CCTV in the lobby. You are responsible for who you give your keys to, whether you leave your windows open, and what you keep inside your safe.
What the provider handles
The provider manages “Security of the Cloud”. This includes:
- Physical security of the servers and data centres.
- The hardware and the virtualisation layer.
- The global infrastructure that keeps the lights on.
What you handle
You manage “Security in the Cloud”. This includes:
- Your data and who can see it.
- Identity and Access Management (IAM).
- Operating system patches for virtual machines.
- Network firewall configurations.
At Transputec, we see businesses struggle with this hand-off every day. You don’t need to become a technical expert, but you do need to know where the provider’s job ends, and yours begins.
The hidden cost of the "Do It Yourself" approach
If you are a high-growth startup or an SME, you might think you can handle your own cloud security management. Perhaps you have a developer or a junior IT person keeping an eye on things.
Here is the reality: a single senior DevOps engineer costs upwards of £120,000 to £150,000 per year. Even then, one person cannot provide 24/7 monitoring or the depth of expertise needed to navigate complex cloud compliance support requirements.
When you try to DIY your security, you often end up with “Configuration Drift.” This happens when small changes are made to your cloud environment over time, slowly opening holes that hackers can exploit. It isn’t a matter of if you will be scanned for vulnerabilities, but when. Automated bots scan the entire internet every few minutes looking for open S3 buckets or misconfigured databases.
How to handle cloud compliance support?
For CIOs and CISOs in regulated sectors like finance or healthcare, the stakes are even higher. It isn’t just about preventing a hack; it is about proving you are doing the right thing.
Cloud compliance support is not a one-time event. It is a continuous process. Regulations like GDPR, PCI-DSS, and ISO 27001 require specific controls that cloud providers do not turn on by default.
For example, if you store patient records in the cloud, simply encrypting the database isn’t enough. You need to prove who accessed that data, when they accessed it, and why. If you cannot produce an audit trail during a regulatory check, the fines can be devastating regardless of whether a breach actually occurred.
We help businesses automate this. Instead of a mad scramble before an audit, we build compliance into the architecture. This reduces the stress on your internal teams and allows you to focus on growth rather than paperwork.
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Why "Losing Control" is a fallacy?
One of the most common concerns we hear from COOs and IT managers is that moving to a managed service provider means losing control of their environment.
The opposite is true.
When you lack visibility into your cloud environment, you have already lost control. You are just hoping that everything is configured correctly. A partnership with Transputec provides you with more control because you finally have clear visibility.
We provide the dashboards, the reporting, and the proactive alerts that tell you exactly what is happening in your cloud. You retain the authority to make business decisions; we provide the technical expertise to execute them safely. It is a collaborative partnership where we take the heavy lifting of cloud security management off your plate so you can focus on your core business goals.
How does Transputec bridge the gap?
We approach security from a business perspective. We know you need to move fast. We know you need to keep costs down. We also know that a single security incident can end a high-growth startup.
Our approach to cloud security management involves three key pillars:
- Continuous Monitoring: We don’t wait for a ticket to be raised. We monitor your environment for anomalies in real-time.
- Architecture Reviews: We look at how your cloud is built and identify where you might be overspending or over-exposing yourself.
- Proactive Compliance: We ensure your cloud compliance support is always “audit-ready,” saving you hundreds of hours of manual work.
By embedding our experts into your workflow, we ensure that security becomes an enabler of your business, not a bottleneck. You can ship new features and enter new markets with the confidence that your foundation is secure.
The ROI of Managed Cloud Security
It is easy to see security as a “grudge purchase.” But let’s look at the return on investment.
When you partner with an MSP for your data security in the cloud, you are:
- Eliminating recruitment costs: No more searching for rare, expensive security talent.
- Reducing downtime: Proactive management stops issues before they take you offline.
- Accelerating time-to-market: Your developers can focus on building products, not configuring firewalls.
- Lowering insurance premiums: Many cyber insurers offer better rates to companies with managed security services.
Conclusion
Understanding who is responsible for data security in the cloud is the first step toward building a resilient business. The “Shared Responsibility Model” means the cloud provider secures the building, but you must secure the contents.
By partnering with Transputec, you gain access to expert cloud security management and cloud compliance support without the massive overhead of hiring an internal team. We embed ourselves in your workflow, ensuring your business is secure, compliant, and ready to scale.
Ready to Experience the Transputec Difference?
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FAQs
1. Does my cloud provider backup my data automatically?
No. While providers offer backup tools, they do not manage them for you. If you accidentally delete a database or a malicious actor wipes your account, the provider is not responsible for recovering that data unless you have configured and tested a backup strategy. We manage this for you to ensure business continuity.
2. Is data security in the cloud better than on-premise?
Generally, yes. Cloud providers spend billions on physical and foundational security that no single company could match. However, the complexity of cloud configurations introduces new risks. It is only “better” if you take responsibility for the settings and data you put into it.
3. How does Transputec help with cloud compliance support?
We map your technical configurations to specific regulatory requirements. If a regulation requires data to be stored in a specific region (like the UK), we enforce those boundaries. We provide the documentation and monitoring required to satisfy auditors that your data security in the cloud is managed correctly.
4. What is the biggest threat to my cloud security management?
The biggest threat is misconfiguration. This includes leaving storage buckets open to the public or giving employees more access permissions than they need. We use automated tools to scan for these errors 24/7 and remediate them immediately.
5. Can Transputec work with our existing internal IT team?
Absolutely. We often act as the “Extended DevOps Team” for internal IT departments. We handle the complex, high-stakes security and infrastructure management, freeing up your internal team to focus on the business-specific applications and user support they know best.
