A cloud service provider (CSP) is a company that delivers software, computing infrastructure, or related services over the internet. Customers may use these services to run applications, store data, or manage business operations without hosting all the technology themselves.
CSPs matter in cyber security because an incident affecting a provider can potentially expose or disrupt customer services and connected systems. Attackers may target a provider directly, exploit a weakness in its service, or use compromised customer credentials to access cloud resources. Defenders should secure accounts and configurations, monitor provider notifications, and verify claims of compromise before treating them as confirmed. A provider’s name on an extortion site alone does not establish that an intrusion or customer impact occurred.