Cloud Compliance Auditing vs Cloud Governance
When it comes to cloud computing, two important concepts that often come up are cloud compliance auditing and cloud governance. Although they are sometimes used interchangeably, they are actually two different concepts with different goals and strategies.
Cloud Compliance Auditing
Cloud compliance auditing involves assessing whether your cloud infrastructure is compliant with various regulations and industry standards. The audit is usually performed by a third-party auditor who evaluates your cloud setup against a set of predefined criteria. The auditor provides a report detailing the areas where your infrastructure is compliant and where it needs improvement.
One of the key benefits of cloud compliance auditing is that it helps ensure that your organization is meeting all relevant regulatory requirements. For example, if you are subject to HIPAA regulations, a cloud compliance audit can help you identify any areas where your cloud infrastructure may be out of compliance.
Cloud Governance
Cloud governance, on the other hand, is a broader concept that focuses on managing your cloud infrastructure throughout its entire lifecycle. It includes policies, procedures, and controls that are put in place to ensure that your cloud environment is secure, reliable, and efficient.
Cloud governance is about creating a set of rules and procedures that are designed to ensure that your cloud environment operates in a way that aligns with your organization's goals and objectives. It encompasses everything from cloud design and implementation to ongoing management and optimization.
How They Work Together
Although cloud compliance auditing and cloud governance are different concepts, they can work together to create a secure and reliable cloud environment. A cloud compliance audit can identify areas where you need to improve your cloud governance policies and procedures. In turn, cloud governance provides a framework for implementing the changes recommended by the audit.
By combining the two concepts, you can ensure that your cloud infrastructure meets all regulatory requirements while also operating in a way that is aligned with your organization's objectives.
Conclusion
Cloud compliance auditing and cloud governance are two different concepts with different goals and strategies. Although they are often used interchangeably, it is important to understand the differences between them. By using both approaches together, you can create a secure and reliable cloud environment that meets all regulatory requirements while also aligning with your organization's goals and objectives.