# SUSAN Cloud Security Validation Canonical URL: https://srql.com/services/susan-cloud-security-validation/ ## [Continuous Assurance](https://srql.com/services/susan/) SUSAN Cloud Security Validation helps organizations review cloud security posture, cloud risks, control evidence, remediation actions and compliance readiness across AWS, Azure, GCP and Microsoft 365 environments. Cloud environments change quickly. New users, workloads, storage locations, APIs, integrations and permissions can be added faster than security and compliance teams can manually review them. SUSAN Cloud Security Validation helps connect cloud findings, IAM risks, logging evidence, data protection controls, security signals and compliance visibility into a more structured assurance workflow. ## What Is SUSAN Cloud Security Validation? SUSAN Cloud Security Validation is a SUSAN module capability that helps teams validate cloud security controls and evidence across cloud and collaboration environments. **It can support visibility across:** AWS Azure GCP Microsoft 365 MFA IAM risks Cloud logging Identity governance Cloud exposure Cloud misconfiguration Compute access posture Compute access posture Audit-ready cloud evidence Conditional Access DLP Collaboration risks API and workload security The goal is to help cloud, security, SOC, GRC and audit teams understand whether cloud controls are visible, evidenced and ready for review. ## Why Cloud Security Validation Matters Cloud environments are dynamic. A configuration that was secure last month may become risky after new users, workloads, services or integrations are added. **Common cloud security risks include:** Excessive IAM permissions Weak MFA coverage Unreviewed cloud identities Public storage exposure Weak logging coverage Missing audit visibility Exposed workloads Uncontrolled external sharing Weak DLP coverage Over-permissioned service accounts Missing Conditional Access policies Cloud findings not linked to compliance obligations Missing encryption evidence Cloud security validation helps organizations identify and track these risks before they become incidents or audit findings. ## AWS Security Validation AWS environments can include many identities, storage services, workloads and access paths. **SUSAN Cloud Security Validation can support AWS-related visibility such as:** IAM users, roles and permissions Compute access posture Cloud security findings Logging visibility Storage security Encryption evidence MFA coverage S3 exposure Compliance evidence This helps teams connect AWS cloud risks to remediation, evidence and audit readiness. ## Azure Security Validation Azure environments often depend heavily on identity, access control and cloud configuration. **SUSAN Cloud Security Validation can support Azure-related visibility such as:** Azure Entra identity governance MFA coverage Conditional Access visibility Privileged access review Audit visibility Cloud workload exposure Logging and monitoring evidence Encryption and data protection evidence Compliance alignment **This helps teams connect and monitoring evidence** Encryption and data protection evidence Compliance alignment This helps teams connect Azure findings to risk and governance workflows. ## GCP Security Validation GCP environments require visibility into IAM policies, public assets, service accounts, APIs and workloads. **SUSAN Cloud Security Validation can support GCP-related visibility such as:** IAM policy review Public asset exposure API security Workload security Logging evidence Storage permissions Service account review Encryption evidence Compliance evidence This helps cloud teams track exposure and security posture across GCP environments. ## Microsoft 365 Security Validation Microsoft 365 environments contain sensitive communication, collaboration and business data. **SUSAN Cloud Security Validation can support Microsoft 365-related visibility such as:** Identity controls MFA and Conditional Access Email security posture Microsoft 365 integrations External sharing Collaboration risks Audit logs DLP visibility Data protection evidence Compliance evidence This helps organizations manage M365 security as part of cloud, SOC, privacy and GRC workflows. ## IAM and Access Validation Identity and access management is one of the most important areas of cloud security. **SUSAN Cloud Security Validation can help teams review:** User permissions Privileged roles Service accounts Admin access MFA coverage Conditional Access Dormant accounts External identities Role-based access Access review evidence Weak IAM controls can create cloud compromise, data exposure and compliance risk. ## Logging and Monitoring Validation Cloud security depends on reliable logging and monitoring. **SUSAN Cloud Security Validation can help teams review evidence for:** Cloud audit logs Identity logs Workload logs Storage access logs Microsoft 365 Unified Audit Logs SIEM visibility Alert rules Retention settings Incident investigation evidence This supports SOC workflows, incident response and audit readiness. ## Misconfiguration and Exposure Validation Cloud misconfiguration is a common source of risk. **SUSAN Cloud Security Validation can help teams identify and track:** Public storage exposure Open access paths Excessive permissions Weak network segmentation Missing encryption Exposed workloads Excessive external sharing Unreviewed APIs Unused or stale cloud assets Missing remediation ownership This helps teams prioritize cloud remediation based on risk and evidence. ## DLP and Collaboration Risk Validation Microsoft 365 and cloud collaboration tools can create data protection risk if sharing and access controls are weak. **SUSAN Cloud Security Validation can support review of:** DLP visibility External sharing settings Collaboration risks Sensitive data exposure Oversharing risks Guest access Audit logs Retention evidence Access governance This helps connect cloud collaboration risks to privacy, GRC and audit readiness. ## Cloud Security Validation Control Map Cloud Security Area Common Problem SUSAN Support AWS security IAM, S3 exposure, logging and compute posture are reviewed separately Track AWS cloud risks, evidence and remediation visibility Azure security Identity and Conditional Access gaps are hard to prioritize Connect Azure identity and access findings to risk workflows GCP security Public assets, IAM policies and service accounts are difficult to govern Track GCP asset, access and logging evidence M365 security Email, DLP, external sharing and collaboration risks remain fragmented Connect M365 findings to cloud, privacy and GRC visibility IAM Excessive access and privileged roles increase attack paths Review permissions, MFA, roles and access evidence Logging Cloud events cannot be investigated or evidenced Track logging visibility, SIEM connection and retention evidence Misconfiguration Cloud services are deployed with risky settings Identify exposure, missing controls and remediation ownership Compliance evidence Cloud controls are not linked to audit obligations Map cloud evidence to frameworks and audit readiness ## How Cloud Security Validation Connects with Other SUSAN Modules SUSAN Cloud Security Validation connects with other SUSAN capabilities including AI Risk Scoring, Continuous Monitoring & Evidence, Unified GRC Dashboard, Asset Inventory, Data Inventory and Classification and Global Compliance & Trust. **Together, these capabilities help organizations connect:** Cloud findings IAM risks Asset ownership Evidence status Control mapping Compliance obligations SOC signals Remediation ownership Audit-ready reporting Continuous Assurance This helps move cloud security from isolated technical review to structured business risk and compliance visibility. ## Who Uses SUSAN Cloud Security Validation? This module is useful for teams responsible for cloud security, SOC monitoring, GRC and audit readiness. **Primary users include:** Cloud security teams CISOs SOC teams GRC teams Compliance managers Risk managers IT leaders Microsoft 365 administrators Audit teams Executive leadership These teams use cloud security validation to improve cloud risk visibility, evidence and remediation ownership. ## Cloud Security Validation Readiness Checklist **Use this checklist to assess cloud validation maturity:** - Are AWS, Azure, GCP and Microsoft 365 environments inventoried? - Are IAM permissions reviewed? - Is MFA coverage visible? - Are Conditional Access policies reviewed? - Are privileged roles monitored? - Are cloud audit logs enabled? - Are cloud logs connected to SIEM or SOC workflows? - Are public storage risks reviewed? - Are cloud workloads checked for exposure? - Are DLP and collaboration risks reviewed? - Are encryption settings evidenced? - Are cloud findings linked to owners? - Are remediation actions tracked? - Are cloud controls mapped to compliance obligations? - Can leadership see cloud risk status? If several answers are no, the organization may need stronger cloud security validation and assurance visibility. ## FAQ ##### Most frequent questions and answers ** ** What is SUSAN Cloud Security Validation? SUSAN Cloud Security Validation is a SUSAN module capability that helps organizations review cloud security posture, cloud risks, control evidence, remediation actions and compliance readiness. ** ** Which cloud platforms does it support? SUSAN source material references cloud coverage across AWS, Azure, GCP and Microsoft 365. ** ** What cloud risks can be reviewed? Cloud risks may include IAM gaps, public storage exposure, weak logging, missing encryption evidence, misconfiguration, external sharing, DLP gaps and workload exposure. ** ** How does this support Microsoft 365 security? It can support Microsoft 365 security visibility across identity controls, MFA, Conditional Access, email security, DLP, external sharing, collaboration risks and audit logs. ** ** How does cloud validation support compliance? Cloud validation supports compliance by linking cloud findings, controls, evidence and remediation actions to audit readiness and framework alignment. ** ** How does this connect with AI Risk Scoring? Cloud Security Validation can provide cloud findings and evidence that support AI Risk Scoring, risk prioritization and remediation tracking. ** ** How does this connect with Continuous Monitoring & Evidence? Cloud Security Validation connects cloud findings, logging, IAM evidence, DLP evidence and remediation activity into Continuous Monitoring & Evidence workflows. Cloud security needs more than one-time configuration reviews. Organizations need continuous visibility into cloud risks, IAM, logging, DLP, exposure, evidence and remediation. Explore SUSAN Cloud Security Validation to improve cloud risk visibility, compliance evidence and Continuous Assurance across AWS, Azure, GCP and Microsoft 365. [Try SUSAN](http://scpauth.servqualit.com/) [Book a Discovery Workshop](https://srql.com/contact/)