When considering security and compliance for cloud services, what is essential to evaluate?

Evaluating ownership and management of the cloud server is crucial for ensuring security and compliance in cloud services. This aspect involves understanding who controls the physical and virtual infrastructure of the cloud service provider. Proper ownership and management can influence the security protocols implemented, data access controls, and overall data protection measures in place. It's essential to assess whether the cloud provider meets the necessary compliance standards for data protection and whether they have established policies for incident management, data breaches, and auditing.

The ownership aspect also ensures there is a clear understanding of the liabilities and responsibilities in the event of a security incident. Understanding who has access to your data and how it is managed gives organizations better insight into potential vulnerabilities and compliance risks they may face.

While data protection compliance of the local organization is important, it complements rather than replaces the need to understand the governance of the cloud service. Similarly, availability of local support and on-site storage for sensitive data are practical considerations that may aid the operational aspect but do not directly address the fundamental security and compliance framework provided by the cloud service.