Cloud Security
Defensive Security helps Australian organisations assess cloud security risks, strengthen cloud architecture and develop practical security improvement strategies across Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services (AWS), software-as-a-service and hybrid environments.
Our framework-informed approach brings together secure cloud adoption, configuration assessment, identity protection, data security, governance and assurance planning to support risk-informed cloud transformation.
Build a Stronger Foundation for Cloud Security
Cloud adoption introduces new security responsibilities, architectural dependencies and operational risks. Organisations must protect identities, workloads and information while maintaining visibility and control across cloud services.
A secure cloud strategy requires more than selecting a provider. It involves cloud governance, well-designed landing zones, configuration baselines, shared responsibility, security monitoring and evidence-based control assurance.
Defensive Security uses relevant Australian security guidance, Microsoft and AWS architecture practices, CIS security benchmarks and international cloud control frameworks to inform assessments, security design recommendations and prioritised improvement planning.
Our Core Focus
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Assess Cloud Security RisksIdentify exposures, configuration weaknesses and control gaps.
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Design Secure Cloud FoundationsReview landing zones, architecture and security guardrails.
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Strengthen Identity and Data SecurityAddress access, privileged identities and sensitive data.
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Improve Governance and AssuranceEstablish control ownership, evidence and uplift priorities.
Cloud Security Assessment, Architecture and Assurance
Our cloud security advisory services combine recognised cloud adoption practices, platform-specific security guidance, configuration benchmarks and risk-based assurance principles to support informed decisions across Azure, AWS, SaaS and hybrid environments.
Cloud Security Assessment and Configuration Baselines
Review cloud environments to identify misconfigurations, excessive permissions, unnecessary exposure, control weaknesses and risks affecting sensitive information or business-critical workloads.
Assessments can be informed by applicable CIS Benchmarks for Azure, AWS and associated services, the CIS Controls Cloud Companion Guide, the Microsoft Cloud Security Benchmark and relevant AWS security recommendations.
Findings can be documented against agreed control criteria, with evidence gaps, risk ratings, remediation priorities and control ownership identified for client review.
Secure Cloud Adoption and Architecture
Secure cloud adoption requires appropriate architectural foundations, clear governance and security controls integrated into cloud deployment and operating models.
Our architecture review approach can draw on the Microsoft Cloud Adoption Framework, Azure Well-Architected Framework, AWS Cloud Adoption Framework, AWS Well-Architected Security Pillar and AWS Security Reference Architecture.
Design considerations include landing zones, subscription or account structures, network boundaries, security guardrails, workload isolation, secure connectivity and governance responsibilities.
Cloud Identity, Access and Data Protection
Identity, privileged access and data protection are central to securing cloud environments. Poorly governed permissions and sensitive information can create significant cloud security exposure.
We support reviews of identity and access management, multi-factor authentication, conditional access, privileged identities, service accounts, workload identities and least-privilege access arrangements.
Data security considerations include classification, encryption, key management, storage permissions, information sharing, retention and cross-border data handling where relevant.
Cloud Security Posture, Monitoring and Resilience
Cloud security posture management requires ongoing visibility into assets, configuration changes, vulnerabilities, security events and control effectiveness.
Our advisory approach considers cloud security posture management, configuration drift, logging, threat detection, vulnerability management, incident response readiness and integration with existing security operations.
Reviews can also consider workload resilience, backup protection, recovery dependencies and relevant Microsoft or AWS monitoring capabilities without assuming that monitoring operations are included in the engagement.
Cloud Security Governance, Framework Mapping and Assurance Planning
Effective cloud security requires defined responsibilities, documented risk decisions, appropriate security policies and assurance over controls operated by both the cloud customer and provider.
We support reviews of cloud governance, shared responsibility, supplier assurance, control ownership, cloud service risks and the evidence available to demonstrate implementation of agreed security requirements.
Our methodology can incorporate relevant ASD ISM guidance, ASD Essentials, CIS Controls, the Cloud Security Alliance Cloud Controls Matrix, NIST Cybersecurity Framework and ISO/IEC security standards.
Assessment outputs may include control gap registers, responsibility mappings, prioritised recommendations, evidence requirements and security improvement roadmaps, subject to the agreed engagement scope.
Engagement scope: Advisory reviews and framework-informed assessments do not automatically include cloud platform implementation, continuous monitoring, penetration testing, independent certification or formal government assessment. These activities require separate scoping and confirmation of delivery capability.
Our Five-Step Cloud Security Approach
A structured assessment and advisory approach that combines cloud architecture guidance, configuration baselines, shared responsibility and security assurance requirements.
Discover
Understand cloud services, workloads, information classification and shared responsibilities.
Assess
Review risks, configuration baselines, security controls and available evidence.
Design
Define target-state controls, architecture principles and security guardrails.
Prioritise
Plan risk treatment, remediation dependencies and security uplift activities.
Assure
Establish evidence needs, control ownership and ongoing assurance priorities.
Cloud security responsibilities vary between infrastructure-as-a-service, platform-as-a-service and software-as-a-service models. Cloud customers must understand their retained responsibilities. Client decision-makers remain accountable for security approvals, risk treatment, control implementation and acceptance of residual risks.
What Can Your Organisation Achieve?
A framework-informed approach to cloud security can help organisations understand their security posture, improve cloud design decisions and establish accountable, risk-based improvement priorities.
Improved Cloud Security Visibility
Identify cloud assets, security exposures, configuration weaknesses and control gaps through structured review.
Stronger Cloud Architecture
Support consistent security principles, secure landing zones, network boundaries and workload design decisions.
Better Identity and Data Protection
Identify improvements to privileged access, authentication, information protection and encryption arrangements.
Clearer Configuration Baselines
Use applicable platform guidance and benchmarks to establish measurable configuration improvement priorities.
Improved Governance and Assurance
Strengthen control ownership, provider assurance, evidence management and risk reporting.
Risk-Informed Cloud Modernisation
Support cloud adoption and investment decisions through prioritised, risk-based security planning.
Cloud Security for Australian Organisations
Cloud security requirements differ across enterprise, government and critical infrastructure environments. Our advisory approach considers each organisation’s technology architecture, cloud service models, information sensitivity, risk ownership and applicable obligations.
Enterprise Organisations
Support cloud security assessments, secure adoption planning and governance reviews across business applications, cloud platforms, hybrid infrastructure and third-party services.
Government Agencies
Support cloud security decisions informed by information classification, ASD guidance, government protective security policies, cloud service assurance and agency-specific requirements.
Critical Infrastructure Operators
Consider cloud dependencies supporting essential services, operational resilience, supplier security, recovery requirements and relevant critical infrastructure obligations.
Australian security and privacy obligations depend on the entity, jurisdiction, information classification, cloud service arrangements and applicable laws or government policies. Hosting data in an Australian region does not, by itself, demonstrate data sovereignty, privacy compliance or government security approval.
Cloud Security Frameworks, Standards and Australian Requirements
Our approach draws on relevant Australian security guidance, cloud provider architecture practices, configuration benchmarks and international control frameworks. References are selected according to the client’s environment, assessment objectives and applicable requirements.
ASD ISM and Cloud Security Guidance
The Australian Signals Directorate Information Security Manual provides risk-based security controls and guidance relevant to cloud architecture, access, data protection, security operations and assurance.
ASD cloud guidance and its cloud security controls matrix can inform shared responsibility analysis, control selection and assessment evidence requirements.
ASD Essentials for Cloud and Essential Eight
ASD Essentials for Cloud provides prioritised guidance for technology environments delivered entirely through software-as-a-service and platform-as-a-service models, focusing on relevant customer security responsibilities.
The Essential Eight remains relevant within its intended scope. Applicable mitigations and current regulatory expectations should be determined for each environment.
Microsoft Cloud Security Frameworks
The Microsoft Cloud Adoption Framework and Azure Well-Architected Framework inform secure adoption, landing zones, governance and workload security design.
The Microsoft Cloud Security Benchmark provides technical security recommendations and service-specific baselines relevant to Azure and supported multicloud scenarios. Benchmark version and maturity should be considered when selecting assessment criteria.
AWS Cloud Security Frameworks
The AWS Cloud Adoption Framework and AWS Well-Architected Security Pillar provide guidance on security governance, identity, infrastructure protection, monitoring, data security and incident readiness.
The AWS Security Reference Architecture provides architectural patterns for multi-account environments, centralised security services and security guardrails. Recommendations require tailoring to the client’s operating model.
CIS Controls and Cloud Benchmarks
CIS Critical Security Controls v8.1 and the Cloud Companion Guide provide prioritised safeguards and cloud customer security considerations.
Applicable CIS Benchmarks for Microsoft Azure, AWS and individual services provide technology-specific configuration recommendations. Assessment scope and benchmark versions must be defined before measuring configuration alignment.
CSA, NIST and ISO/IEC Standards
The Cloud Security Alliance Cloud Controls Matrix supports cloud-specific control assessment, provider assurance and responsibility mapping. NIST Cybersecurity Framework 2.0 supports cybersecurity governance and risk management.
ISO/IEC 27001 establishes information security management system requirements, while ISO/IEC 27017 provides cloud-specific control guidance for cloud service customers and providers.
Australian Government, Privacy and Critical Infrastructure Requirements
Where applicable, cloud security assessments may also need to consider the Commonwealth Protective Security Policy Framework (PSPF), NSW Cyber Security Policy, the Security of Critical Infrastructure Act 2018 (Cth), relevant rules and applicable Commonwealth or state privacy requirements.
These instruments have different jurisdictional and entity scopes. Their application must be established for each client, including any relevant information classification, contractual, data handling, reporting and assurance obligations.
Framework Selection and Assurance Boundaries
Framework selection depends on the cloud platform, service model, applicable obligations, client risk appetite and purpose of the assessment. Vendor recommendations, voluntary standards, government policies and legislation are not interchangeable.
Cloud architecture reviews and framework-informed assessments do not, by themselves, establish compliance, cloud provider endorsement, accreditation or independent certification. Any compliance conclusion requires defined criteria, appropriate evidence and authorised assessment.
Strengthen Your Cloud Security
Discuss cloud security assessments, secure adoption planning, architecture reviews and framework-informed improvement priorities with Defensive Security.
Discuss Your Requirements
