The shared responsibility model is a framework that defines how duties for security, compliance, and ongoing operations are divided between two or more parties, most commonly between a service provider and a customer. It clarifies who is accountable for which controls, processes, and data across the lifecycle of a system or service.
Core idea
Under a shared responsibility model, each party is responsible for specific layers or domains. In industrial and regulated environments, this often appears in:
- Cloud and IT infrastructure: The cloud or hosting provider commonly manages physical data centers, core infrastructure, and some platform services, while the manufacturer is responsible for configuration, access management, application logic, and data use.
- OT / industrial systems: An automation vendor or integrator may be responsible for baseline configuration, firmware updates, and some cybersecurity controls, while the plant owner is responsible for network segmentation, user access, change control, and operational procedures.
- Software in regulated manufacturing: A SaaS MES, LIMS, QMS, or ERP provider typically maintains software functionality, uptime, and certain security controls. The manufacturer remains responsible for system use, data integrity, validation, procedures, and evidence needed for audits.
What it includes
In practice, a shared responsibility model usually covers:
- Security controls: Network security, identity and access management, encryption, endpoint protection, and incident response responsibilities.
- Compliance-related activities: Documentation, validation, qualification, record retention, audit preparation, and change control.
- Operational tasks: System configuration, patching, backup and restore, monitoring, and data lifecycle management.
- Data ownership and handling: Who owns which data, who can access it, and who must act on data quality or integrity issues.
What it does not include
The shared responsibility model itself is not a contract, a standard, or proof of compliance. It is a conceptual and sometimes documented allocation of tasks and accountabilities. Actual obligations are defined in contracts, service-level agreements, internal procedures, and applicable regulations or standards.
Operational relevance in manufacturing
In industrial operations, the shared responsibility model is relevant wherever external providers are involved in critical systems, such as:
- Cloud-hosted MES or data historians used for production execution, traceability, and genealogy.
- Managed OT networks or remote monitoring services for equipment, utilities, or safety systems.
- Third-party quality or document management platforms supporting batch records, deviations, or CAPA.
For regulated environments, clearly defined shared responsibilities support internal governance by indicating, for example, who maintains audit logs, who manages electronic signatures, or who provides evidence during inspections.
Common confusion
- Not the same as an SLA: A service-level agreement focuses on performance metrics and service commitments. A shared responsibility model describes who does what, including internal tasks that may not appear in an SLA.
- Not a full risk assessment: It can inform risk assessments, but organizations still need to evaluate residual risks and control effectiveness across all parties.
- Not limited to cybersecurity: While often discussed in security contexts, shared responsibility can equally apply to validation, data integrity, and operational workflows.
Use across disciplines
In IT and cloud computing, the term commonly refers to the division of security and compliance duties between cloud providers and customers. In industrial automation and manufacturing, it extends to how responsibilities are divided between OEMs, integrators, SaaS providers, and plant operators for safe, compliant, and reliable system operation.