The Cloud Smart strategy, established by the federal government three years ago, encourages agencies to evaluate workloads and choose the appropriate cloud environment based on mission requirements, such as accessibility and data sensitivity. This approach supports remote work and has led to a diverse cloud infrastructure that includes public, private, and hybrid environments.

Agencies can achieve Cloud Secure by adopting a Trusted Internet Connections (TIC) 3.0 zero-trust architecture, ensuring good cloud security posture management, facilitating secure communication between services across multiple cloud vendors, and continuously prioritizing cyber talent and information sharing with private-sector partners.

The zero-trust model is crucial for enhancing cloud security as it shifts focus away from traditional perimeter-based security measures, which are increasingly ineffective in today's hybrid environments. It emphasizes secure access to applications and data regardless of location, thereby reducing vulnerabilities and improving overall security posture.