What countermeasure is NOT utilized to protect cloud operations against internal threats?

The implementation of a conflict of interest policy is crucial in any organizational environment to ensure that employees' decisions are not unduly influenced by personal interests or relationships. However, while it aims to mitigate ethical issues within an organization, it does not serve as a direct countermeasure specifically designed to protect cloud operations against internal threats.

In contrast, other countermeasures like mandatory vacations, separation of duties, and least privilege are directly aimed at reducing the risk of internal threats in cloud environments. Mandatory vacations can help in uncovering fraudulent activities since it requires employees to take time off, thereby allowing others to review or take over their responsibilities. Separation of duties ensures that no single individual has control over all aspects of a critical function, reducing the risk of unauthorized changes or fraud. Least privilege restricts user permissions to the minimum necessary, lowering the chances of misuse or accidental exposure of sensitive data.

Thus, while managing conflict of interest is important for maintaining ethical standards, it does not specifically address the operational security measures needed to protect against internal threats in cloud environments.