What is the main purpose of configuration management in cloud security?

The main purpose of configuration management in cloud security is to maintain consistency in security settings and prevent drift. Configuration management ensures that all systems and devices within a cloud environment are configured according to predefined security policies and standards. This process helps in tracking, managing, and automatically applying changes to configurations across various cloud resources, which is critical in preventing unauthorized changes that can lead to vulnerabilities or security breaches.

By maintaining a consistent and compliant configuration across all systems, organizations can more effectively defend against potential threats and ensure that security measures are uniformly applied. This capability not only bolsters security posture but also enhances operational efficiency by reducing the complexity involved in managing multiple environments and configurations.

In contrast, options related to enhancing data storage scalability, increasing network bandwidth, and automating billing processes do not directly pertain to the core objectives of configuration management. These aspects may support cloud operations, but they do not focus on the critical area of maintaining secure and consistent configurations that safeguard cloud environments.