As UAE financial firms accelerate cloud adoption, regulators expect robust security controls. This article covers the shared responsibility model, data sovereignty, cloud security architecture, and compliance strategies.
Cloud computing has moved from emerging technology to essential infrastructure for financial services. UAE regulated firms increasingly rely on cloud platforms for core functions. Both DFSA and ADGM FSRA permit cloud usage but require firms to implement controls that maintain the same level of security as on-premises environments.
The cloud service provider secures the infrastructure while the firm secures its data, configurations, and access controls. Many cloud security failures result from misunderstanding this boundary. Firms must clearly define responsibilities, implement controls, and verify provider compliance through certifications and audit reports.
UAE regulators require firms to control where customer data is stored and processed. This means selecting compliant cloud regions, implementing technical controls to prevent unauthorized data processing, and understanding provider replication strategies.
Regulated firms must implement identity and access management with centralized authentication, network security through VPCs and security groups, encryption with customer-managed keys, logging integrated with SIEM platforms, and infrastructure-as-code with security baselines and drift detection.
ITSEC provides cloud security assessments and architecture reviews for UAE regulated financial services firms. Contact ITSEC for a cloud security consultation.
Get a comprehensive security assessment from our expert team. Protecting businesses since 2011.