Cloud Architecture Hardening
Design and implement hardened cloud architectures aligned to CIS and CSA benchmarks.
Cloud Architecture Hardening
Individual cloud security assessments identify misconfigurations in existing deployments — but Cloud Architecture Hardening addresses the architectural foundations that determine how secure your cloud environment can ever be. Landing zone design, network segmentation strategy, identity federation model, encryption architecture, and the shared responsibility model implementation are decisions made early in a cloud journey that are difficult and expensive to change later. Intelliroot's Cloud Architecture Hardening service reviews and redesigns these foundational architectural controls to align with zero-trust principles, CIS Benchmarks, and the CSA Cloud Controls Matrix.
Our CREST-certified architects work with your cloud and security engineering teams to review your current architecture against the AWS Well-Architected Security Pillar, Azure Security Benchmark, and GCP Architecture Framework — identifying architectural debt and providing a prioritised roadmap for hardening that is practical to implement without disrupting running workloads. Whether you are running a single cloud environment or a complex multi-cloud estate, we provide the architectural clarity and security framework to govern it effectively.
Why Architecture-Level Security Is Foundational
Misconfiguration Starts with Architecture
Most cloud breaches trace back to architectural decisions made during initial deployment — flat networks without segmentation, identity models that lack federation, and landing zones without security guardrails. Fixing individual misconfigurations without addressing the architecture recreates them continuously.
Shared Responsibility Is Frequently Misunderstood
Cloud providers are responsible for security of the cloud — organisations are responsible for security in the cloud. Misunderstanding this boundary leads to unprotected data, unmonitored access, and assumed controls that do not exist.
Multi-Cloud Complexity Multiplies Risk
Multi-cloud environments with inconsistent security controls, duplicated identity management, and no unified policy layer create significant governance gaps. A consistent architectural security framework is essential for managing risk across cloud platforms.
Zero Trust Cannot Be Bolted On
Zero-trust cloud architecture requires deliberate design — network microsegmentation, identity-based access for every service, continuous verification, and assume-breach network design. These cannot be effectively retrofitted to architectures built on implicit trust models.
What We Review and Design
Landing Zone & Multi-Account Design
- Account/subscription/project hierarchy review
- Security account and log aggregation architecture
- Service control policy and organisation policy design
- Landing zone guardrail completeness assessment
- Multi-cloud governance model review
Network Segmentation & Zero Trust
- Network architecture review (hub-and-spoke, flat, mesh)
- East-west and north-south traffic control assessment
- Zero-trust network access design recommendations
- Private connectivity (VPN, Direct Connect, ExpressRoute)
- Micro-segmentation and service mesh evaluation
Identity Federation & Access Architecture
- Cross-cloud IAM federation design review
- OIDC Workload Identity vs. long-lived credentials
- Privileged access workstation (PAW) architecture
- Break-glass account design and controls
- Just-in-time access model assessment
Encryption & Data Protection Architecture
- Encryption-at-rest key management architecture
- Encryption-in-transit enforcement strategy
- Customer-managed key (BYOK/HYOK) architecture
- Data classification and protection model review
- CIS Benchmarks and CSA CCM compliance mapping
Our Engagement Approach
Architecture Discovery & Stakeholder Interviews
Review existing architecture documentation, network diagrams, and cloud account structures. Interview cloud architects, security leads, and platform engineers to understand design intent, constraints, and pain points. Identify compliance frameworks and regulatory obligations in scope.
Current-State Assessment
Map the current architecture against zero-trust principles, CIS Benchmarks, and the applicable Well-Architected Security Pillar (AWS/Azure/GCP). Identify architectural gaps, implicit trust assumptions, and control deficiencies that cannot be addressed through configuration alone.
Target Architecture Design
Develop target-state architectural recommendations covering landing zone, network segmentation, identity federation, encryption, and shared responsibility clarity. Produce reference architecture diagrams and design decision records for each recommendation.
CSA CCM & Benchmark Mapping
Map the target architecture against CSA Cloud Controls Matrix, CIS Benchmarks for applicable cloud platforms, and any regulatory compliance frameworks in scope. Identify controls that the architecture addresses and gaps requiring additional compensating controls.
Roadmap Delivery & Architecture Review Session
Deliver the full architecture assessment report, target-state diagrams, and a phased implementation roadmap. Present findings in a structured architecture review session with your cloud and security leadership, including Q&A and implementation planning discussion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Deliverables
Executive Architecture Report
Current-state assessment summary, key architectural risk findings, and strategic target-state recommendations for cloud and security leadership.
Detailed Architecture Assessment
Comprehensive review of landing zone, network, identity, and encryption architecture against zero-trust principles, CIS Benchmarks, and Well-Architected Security Pillar — with gap analysis and design decision records.
Target Architecture Diagrams
Reference architecture diagrams for recommended landing zone, network segmentation, identity federation, and encryption models — in editable format for your architecture documentation.
CSA CCM & Benchmark Compliance Mapping
Control-by-control mapping of the current and target architecture against CSA CCM, CIS Benchmarks, and applicable regulatory frameworks for compliance audit submission.
Phased Implementation Roadmap
Prioritised 90-day, 6-month, and 12-month implementation roadmap with effort estimates, dependencies, and implementation sequencing guidance for your cloud engineering team.
Architecture Review Session
Structured presentation of findings and recommendations to cloud and security leadership, with Q&A, implementation planning discussion, and recorded session for future reference.
Request a Security Assessment
Tell us about your environment and security objectives. We'll design a bespoke assessment and deliver a detailed proposal within 48 hours.