The Leanpub Podcast 🎙️ Feat. Klaus Haller, Author of The Definitive Guide to Cloud Security Architecture

Episode Details

In this episode of the Leanpub Podcast, Len Epp interviews Klaus Haller, senior IT security architect and author of The Definitive Guide to Cloud Security Architecture. They explore Klaus’s career journey from software engineering into cloud security, and dive into the four pillars of cloud security: architecture, network/perimeter defenses, identity & access management, and workload/SOC tooling.

Klaus explains how organizations can strengthen resilience against advanced cyber threats, the role of AI in both attacks and defenses, and the importance of quality assurance in cloud environments. He also reflects on his writing process and why documenting cloud security best practices matters for both practitioners and companies moving into the cloud.

The conversation offers insights into building secure, scalable cloud systems, navigating modern cyber risks, and preparing for the future of cybersecurity.

You can find the book on Leanpub at https://leanpub.com/cloud-security-architecture.

This interview was recorded on August 14, 2025.

Thank you for watching, please like and leave a comment, we'd love to hear from you!

About the Book

Cloud breaches don’t happen because you're missing a tool. They happen because your architecture is already broken—whether you realize it or not.

This book shows you how to design and build secure cloud environments that withstand the real-world threats your peers are already facing—and too often fail to stop.

Whether you’re starting from scratch or inheriting chaos, this book arms you with proven blueprints, modern architectural insights, and the confidence to secure any cloud: AWS, Azure, GCP, or beyond.

Inside the Book

A practical introduction built around the four pillars of secure cloud architecture.

Chapter 1: Cloud Security Architecture and the Role of Architects

Learn what it really means to be a cloud security architect. Master the shared responsibility model, and uncover the critical architectural and organizational blind spots that leave many organizations dangerously exposed. Understand the role of security architects, and how industry standards and best practices from CIS, ISO, AWS, Azure, and GCP support their work. Additionally, gain an overview of which security QA measures integrate security into delivery, rather than relegating it to a yearly high-level check-box ticking. 

Chapter 2: Network and Perimeter Security

Your network is your first line of defense—if built correctly. Go beyond simple network features of the clouds and learn how to architect secure networks using segmentation, native controls, and third-party solutions that fill platform gaps. Build perimeters that prevent, not just detect.

Chapter 3: Identity and Access Management (IAM)

IAM is the attackers’ favorite doorway, because they know what you don’t. This chapter ensures they never use that ignorance against you again. It tackles cloud-specific IAM topics traditional teams often overlook: how to secure privileged access and technical identities, or how certificates work and when (not) to use them.

Chapter 4: Workload Protection and SOC Tooling

Lock down your IaaS and PaaS workloads and discover how to design for early attack detection and rapid response using cloud-native and third-party tools. Turn logging, SIEM, and vulnerability management into powerful tools in your cloud defense strategy.

Why This Book?

• Based on real-world cloud architecture, not theory or marketing slides
• Rewires your thinking to match the elite few: independent, strategic, and immune to the slideware illusions pushed by cloud vendors
• Written for IT security professionals who assess, design, build, and secure real cloud environments—not just study for certification exams
• Gives you practical strategies, not just reference docs

 A Work in Progress — Your Feedback Matters

• Chapters 1 and 2 available now (100+ pages).
• Chapter 3 due October 2025. Chapter 4 is expected for December.
• Full release expected early 2026.

About the Author

Klaus is a senior security architect and passionate tech strategist with years of experience securing complex, large-scale cloud environments. He thrives at the intersection of technology and chaos—bringing order with style. By day, he designs secure cloud infrastructures, protects server workloads, and secures modern workplace environments. By night (and often before most of us have had our first coffee), he channels his hands-on experience into sharp, thought-provoking articles and engaging conference talks.

Klaus is the author of Managing AI in an Enterprise, a contributor to leading online tech publications, and a familiar face on the conference circuit. His work is known for blending deep technical insight with real-world relevance.

Follow the author here!

Clips From This Episode of the Leanpub Podcast