Which of these statements about cloud security best describes access controls?

Access controls are a fundamental aspect of cloud security, primarily focused on managing permissions and ensuring that only authorized users can access cloud resources. This includes defining who can view, modify, or interact with data and applications hosted in the cloud. Effective access controls help prevent unauthorized access, mitigate the risk of data breaches, and maintain regulatory compliance.

By establishing appropriate permissions and roles, organizations can ensure that users only have access to the resources necessary for their job functions, thus enforcing the principle of least privilege. This strategic management of access is vital for protecting sensitive information in the cloud and maintaining overall security posture.

Other statements in the question do not accurately reflect the essence of access controls. For example, access controls do not inherently protect data at rest or during transit, as that is typically the role of encryption and data protection measures. Additionally, access controls are crucial in cloud environments, contrary to the idea that they are unnecessary. Encryption is also a separate security measure and is not automatically included within access controls, which focus on permissions rather than data encryption by default.