Cloud security is a shared effort. While AWS provides a secure and compliant cloud infrastructure, customers are still responsible for securing their own applications and data. Understanding this division of responsibilities is critical for anyone using AWS services. The AWS Shared Responsibility Model clearly defines who is responsible for what in the cloud. AWS handles the security of the cloud, the infrastructure, hardware, and foundational services, while customers are responsible for security in the cloud, including their data, applications, and access controls.
In this guide, we will break down the AWS Shared Responsibility Model, explain why it matters, explore its types, and show how it helps maintain AWS compliance and strong security in the cloud.
Table of Contents:
What is the AWS Shared Responsibility Model?
The AWS Shared Responsibility Model is a framework that divides security duties between AWS and its customers. It helps clarify who is responsible for protecting different aspects of your cloud environment, reducing confusion and security gaps.
- Security of the Cloud (AWS’s responsibility): AWS manages the security of the underlying infrastructure, including physical data centers, networking equipment, servers, and foundational services. AWS ensures compliance with global standards and keeps the cloud environment resilient against threats.
- Security in the Cloud (Customer’s responsibility): Customers are responsible for securing their own applications, data, operating systems, and access controls. This includes implementing encryption, identity and access management, and following best practices to maintain AWS compliance.
By understanding this model, organisations can confidently leverage AWS services, knowing which responsibilities fall to AWS and which fall to them. This collaborative approach strengthens overall cloud security and minimises risks.
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Need for AWS Shared Responsibility Model
The AWS Shared Responsibility Model is important because it clearly separates security duties between AWS and customers. This clarity helps organisations avoid misunderstandings that could lead to vulnerabilities or compliance issues.
Key benefits of AWS shared responsibility model:
- Clarity: Both AWS and customers know exactly what they are responsible for, reducing confusion.
- Risk Reduction: By dividing responsibilities, security gaps are minimised and potential breaches are less likely.
- Regulatory Compliance: Customers can implement the right controls to meet industry standards and maintain AWS compliance.
- Collaboration: The model encourages a shared security mindset, where AWS secures the cloud infrastructure and customers secure their workloads.
In short, this framework ensures that both AWS and its users work together to maintain strong security in the cloud, creating a safer and more reliable environment for applications and data.
How Does the AWS Shared Responsibility Model Work?
The AWS Shared Responsibility Model separates security into two key areas: security of the cloud and security in the cloud.
1. Security of the Cloud (AWS Responsibility)
AWS is responsible for protecting the underlying cloud infrastructure. This includes:
- Physical security of data centres
- Network and hardware security
- Foundational services like storage, compute, and database platforms
- Compliance with industry standards and regulations
AWS ensures that the cloud environment itself is resilient, reliable, and secure, so customers can build on a solid foundation.
2. Security in the Cloud (Customer Responsibility)
Customers are responsible for securing everything they put in the cloud. This includes:
- Data stored in AWS services
- Applications and workloads running on EC2, Lambda, or containers
- Operating systems, firewalls, and network configurations
- Access management using IAM policies and encryption
By understanding this clear division, organisations can avoid security gaps, maintain AWS compliance, and ensure strong security in the cloud.
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Types of AWS Shared Responsibility Model
The AWS Shared Responsibility Model applies differently depending on the services you use. Here are the two main types:
1. Infrastructure Services Model
This model applies to traditional cloud services where customers manage more of the environment.
- AWS Responsibility: Secures the underlying infrastructure, including servers, storage, and networking. AWS also ensures availability, scalability, and fault tolerance.
- Customer Responsibility: Protects data, operating systems, applications, and ensures compliance with relevant regulations.
This model is commonly used with services like EC2, S3, and RDS.
2. Container Services Model
This model applies to containerised applications, where AWS manages the platform while customers focus on their workloads.
- AWS Responsibility: Secures the container infrastructure and manages services like Amazon ECS and EKS, including orchestration, scalability, and fault tolerance.
- Customer Responsibility: Secures data and applications inside the containers and ensures regulatory compliance.
Understanding these types helps organisations clearly define responsibilities, ensuring strong security in the cloud and AWS compliance.
Applications of the AWS Shared Responsibility Model
The AWS Shared Responsibility Model is more than just theory; it directly affects how businesses secure their cloud environments. Here are the key areas where the model plays a practical role:
1. Identity & Access Management (IAM)
AWS provides the tools (IAM users, roles, policies), but customers decide who gets access, what permissions they receive, and how authentication is enforced.
Strong practices like MFA, least privilege, and role-based access fall under customer responsibility.
2. Data Protection
AWS offers encryption tools, KMS, secure storage options, and network-level protection.
Customers must classify data, enable encryption, manage keys (unless using AWS-managed keys), and ensure sensitive information is handled correctly.
3. Network Configuration
AWS secures the global infrastructure and backbone network.
Customers configure VPCs, subnets, routing rules, security groups, and NACLs to control how traffic flows into and within their environment.
4. Patch Management
AWS patches the underlying infrastructure and managed services.
Customers must patch their applications, OS updates on EC2 instances, container images, and custom software.
5. Compliance & Governance
AWS provides certifications and compliant infrastructure, but customers are responsible for aligning their workloads, data handling, and operational practices with industry regulations like GDPR, HIPAA, or PCI-DSS.
6. Monitoring & Logging
AWS delivers monitoring tools like CloudWatch, CloudTrail, and GuardDuty.
Customers need to enable logs, analyse alerts, respond to incidents, and set up the right monitoring rules for their workloads.
Benefits of the AWS Shared Responsibility Model
The AWS Shared Responsibility Model brings clarity to how cloud security works, making it easier for businesses to protect their applications without getting overwhelmed. Here are the key advantages:
|
Best Practice
|
What It Means / Why It Matters
|
| Use Strong IAM Controls |
Apply least privilege, enable MFA, rotate credentials, and avoid long-lived access keys to reduce unauthorized access risks. |
| Encrypt Data (At Rest & In Transit) |
Use AWS KMS, TLS, and encrypted storage so sensitive data stays protected even if accessed improperly. |
| Enable Logging & Monitoring |
Tools like CloudTrail, CloudWatch, and AWS Config help detect suspicious activity and misconfigurations quickly. |
| Patch OS & Applications Regularly |
EC2 instances and self-managed workloads must be patched to close security vulnerabilities. |
| Automate Security Checks |
Services like Security Hub and Amazon Inspector help automate compliance and vulnerability scanning. |
| Know the Responsibility Split for Each Service |
AWS duties vary between EC2, ECS/EKS, Lambda, etc. Reviewing documentation avoids security gaps. |
| Back Up Critical Data |
Use AWS Backup, replication, and versioning to protect against data loss and corruption. |
| Have an Incident Response Plan |
Playbooks and automated alerts (GuardDuty, CloudWatch) help you respond quickly to security events. |
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Conclusion
The AWS Shared Responsibility Model offers a clear way to understand who secures what in the cloud, helping teams avoid gaps and maintain a strong security posture. When businesses pair AWS’s built-in protections with their own best practices, like monitoring, patching, and access control, they create a safer and more reliable environment for their applications and data.
If you want to build greater, hands-on skills in cloud security and automation, the DevOps with AWS Course is an excellent way to strengthen your expertise and apply these principles in real scenarios.