Cloud compute is remote processing power that runs tasks on a provider’s servers instead of on your local device. It can execute code, analyze files, generate outputs, or scale workloads on demand without using the user’s own hardware.
In cyber security, cloud compute matters because it changes where data is processed and who controls the execution environment. A cloud-backed feature may handle sensitive documents, API keys, or uploaded content inside a shared platform, so defenders need strong identity controls, logging, sandboxing, and least-privilege access. If the service supports code execution, attackers may try to abuse it for data theft, malicious automation, or resource abuse such as cryptomining. Defenses focus on isolating jobs, validating inputs, restricting egress, and monitoring cloud activity for unusual behavior.