Cloud Computing: Current capabilities

Infrastructure services expose machines and networks; platform services take on more runtime work; software services provide finished applications. This range supports different workload and team needs. A managed component can reduce maintenance effort without transferring every operational decision to its provider.

Microsoft’s shared-responsibility guidance retains customer responsibilities for data, identities and access decisions across service models. Cloud adoption therefore changes security boundaries rather than abolishing them. A provider operating a physical host is not evidence that an application’s permissions or backups are correct.