Cloud dependence is reliance on remote servers or hosted services for a device or product to work fully. These services may handle account access, data storage, location updates, notifications, or communication with a mobile app.
In cyber security, cloud dependence creates a trust boundary: users rely on the provider’s security, availability, and policies. A service outage, account compromise, or change in support can affect the product. Local-first or mesh-based designs can reduce reliance on centralized services, but shift responsibility toward device setup, radio coverage, pairing, and local network security. Neither model is automatically safer; the key is understanding which functions stop working when the cloud is unavailable and protecting each part of the system accordingly.