Secure Cloud Architecture Design
Academic and Independent Project / Cloud / Cybersecurity
Designed a conceptual secure cloud environment that addresses identity, access, networking, application hosting, monitoring, data protection, incident response, and governance.
Workflow
- 01Requirements and constraints
- 02Identity and access design
- 03Network segmentation
- 04Application and API hosting
- 05Data protection and encryption
- 06Monitoring and logging
- 07Backup and recovery
- 08Incident response and governance
Layers
Identity and access
Users · Multi-factor authentication · Microsoft Entra ID · Role-based access control · Administrative access controls
Application tier
Web application · API layer · Private network
Data tier
Database · Encrypted storage · Backup and recovery
Operations
Security monitoring · Logging · Incident-response workflow
Toolset
- Microsoft Azure
- Microsoft Entra ID
- Role-based access control
- Multi-factor authentication
- Private networking
- Encryption at rest and in transit
Problem or objective
A cloud workload needs an identity-first, defense-in-depth design that can be explained to both technical reviewers and non-technical stakeholders.
Rachel's role
Architect of the conceptual design and author of the supporting documentation.
Process
- 01Requirements and constraints
- 02Identity and access design
- 03Network segmentation
- 04Application and API hosting
- 05Data protection and encryption
- 06Monitoring and logging
- 07Backup and recovery
- 08Incident response and governance
Architecture components
Identity and access
- Users
- Multi-factor authentication
- Microsoft Entra ID
- Role-based access control
- Administrative access controls
Application tier
- Web application
- API layer
- Private network
Data tier
- Database
- Encrypted storage
- Backup and recovery
Operations
- Security monitoring
- Logging
- Incident-response workflow
Tools and technologies
- Microsoft Azure
- Microsoft Entra ID
- Role-based access control
- Multi-factor authentication
- Private networking
- Encryption at rest and in transit
- Security monitoring and logging
Security and ethical considerations
- Identity-first design with MFA and role-based access control
- Network isolation between public entry points and data services
- Encryption for stored and transmitted data
- Centralized logging with monitoring and alerting
- Documented incident-response and recovery workflow
Outcome
A documented reference design and diagram that communicates security decisions across identity, network, data, and operations layers.
This is a conceptual academic and portfolio architecture. It does not represent a production environment unless otherwise stated.