Episode 30 — Right-size cloud and virtualization scope with evidence
Cloud and virtualization do not remove PCI obligations; they redistribute them, and the exam tests whether you can trace scope and evidence across shared responsibility lines. This episode establishes the logic for right-sizing scope: identify which layers you control (identity, configuration, network, workload), which the provider operates, and how data moves within and between services. For virtualized on-prem environments, distinguish the hypervisor, management plane, host OS, and guest workloads, then map controls and isolation between tenants or functions. For public cloud, align services to SAQ/ROC expectations and require provider attestations that match actual usage. The output is a responsibility matrix backed by artifacts: provider AOCs, architecture diagrams, configuration exports, and segmentation test reports for virtual networks and security groups.
We work through representative cases. A token-only analytics workload lives in cloud but connects to a CDE data source; correct answers confine trust boundaries, apply least privilege networking, and show that no PAN lands on the analytics platform. A multi-tenant hypervisor hosts both CDE and non-CDE guests; the exam expects management isolation, hardened templates, and monitoring that detects cross-tenant violations. A serverless integration reduces OS responsibilities but increases the need for strict IAM, secrets handling, and event logging; evidence must prove controls at the function boundary. Troubleshooting covers drift from infrastructure-as-code baselines, overbroad roles in cloud IAM, and snapshots or images that retain sensitive data. The exam rewards options that neither over-include everything nor ignore provider roles, but instead define scope precisely and present proof that controls at each layer are implemented, monitored, and reviewed in a way consistent with PCI’s intent and your architecture. Produced by BareMetalCyber.com, where you’ll find more cyber audio courses, books, and information to strengthen your educational path. Also, if you want to stay up to date with the latest news, visit DailyCyber.News for a newsletter you can use, and a daily podcast you can commute with.
