Ethical Hacking Essentials Practice Test

Who in the NIST cloud deployment reference architecture performs independent examinations of cloud service controls?

1. Cloud Consumer

2. Cloud Carrier

3. Cloud Auditor

4. Cloud Service Provider

The correct answer is: Cloud Auditor

The role that performs independent examinations of cloud service controls is known as the Cloud Auditor. This entity is responsible for assessing the effectiveness of the cloud service provider's controls and ensuring compliance with security standards and regulations. The Cloud Auditor provides an objective evaluation, which is critical for users (cloud consumers) to trust the cloud services they are utilizing. Cloud Auditors conduct regular audits and assessments to evaluate risk management, governance, and compliance, which enable informed decision-making by cloud consumers. This independent examination is essential for maintaining security and trust in the cloud environment, as it helps to identify potential vulnerabilities and ensure that appropriate security practices are in place by the Cloud Service Provider. Other roles, such as the Cloud Consumer, Cloud Carrier, and Cloud Service Provider, do not specifically focus on independent analysis. The Cloud Consumer is typically the end-user or organization using the cloud services, while the Cloud Carrier facilitates the transport of data between the consumer and provider. The Cloud Service Provider delivers the cloud services and is responsible for maintaining controls based on regulatory requirements but does not perform independent audits of their controls. This delineation of roles is what sets the Cloud Auditor apart.