An organization is informed by its cloud provider that a storage device containing some of...

The scenario arises because ofmultitenancy, a core cloud characteristic where multiple customers share the same physical infrastructure. If a storage device containing multiple tenants’ data is seized as part of a case involving another customer, unrelated organizations may still be affected.

Virtualization enables resource abstraction, but multitenancy specifically introduces shared infrastructure risks. SaaS and PaaS are service models, not architectural characteristics.

Multitenancy offers efficiency and cost benefits but raises challenges for data sovereignty, legal jurisdiction, and evidentiary control. Providers mitigate these risks through encryption, logical isolation, and contractual terms. Customers must understand these implications when handling regulated or sensitive data in cloud environments.