What is a security baseline in cloud security?

A security baseline in cloud security refers to a minimum security configuration for systems. It establishes a foundational standard against which the security of systems and services can be measured and evaluated. By defining these minimum requirements, organizations can ensure a consistent security posture across their environments, facilitating compliance with policies and regulations while providing a framework for mitigating security risks.

Security baselines typically encompass various elements such as configurations, access controls, patch levels, and security measures that must be implemented to safeguard cloud resources. By adhering to these baselines, organizations can protect their assets from vulnerabilities and threats, ensuring that they have a robust security framework in place. This consistency also makes it easier to assess changes and the impact they may have on overall security.

The other options do not accurately reflect the concept of a security baseline in cloud environments. A list of authorized equipment pertains to asset management, a historical record of user actions relates to auditing and monitoring, and data encryption is a specific security technique rather than a broad framework like a security baseline.