Zephyr Professional Practice Test

Who is responsible for ensuring regulatory compliance in cloud services?

1. Cloud service providers

2. Cloud consumers

3. Third-party auditors

4. IT support teams

The correct answer is: Cloud consumers

The responsibility for ensuring regulatory compliance in cloud services primarily falls on cloud consumers. This is because cloud consumers must understand and adhere to the regulatory requirements that apply to their specific industry and the data they handle. Although cloud service providers play an essential role in maintaining a secure infrastructure and may assist in meeting compliance requirements, the ultimate accountability for compliance rests with the consumers. This is due to the fact that consumers are responsible for how they manage data and services in the cloud, including implementing appropriate policies, procedures, and controls to comply with regulations such as GDPR, HIPAA, or others applicable to their operations. Cloud consumers must also stay informed about the compliance features offered by their cloud service providers and how these align with their obligations. By ensuring that they utilize the appropriate services and configurations, consumers can better safeguard their compliance posture. Third-party auditors and IT support teams may contribute to compliance efforts by providing assessments, audits, and technical support, but they do not bear the primary responsibility. Their roles are more about verification and support rather than primary accountability.