Abstract

This chapter investigates the critical role of threat detection in securing multi-cloud environments, a rapidly evolving area as organizations adopt platforms such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP). It analyzes traditional security mechanisms, including firewalls and intrusion detection systems, highlighting their limitations in cloud-native infrastructures. The chapter explores advanced practices such as Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven analytics, Machine Learning (ML), User and Entity Behavior Analytics (UEBA), Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA), and Extended Detection and Response (XDR). A vendor-neutral threat detection architecture is proposed for centralized monitoring and automated incident response. Ethical, legal, and compliance considerations are also discussed, aligning security practices with standards like GDPR and HIPAA. The chapter concludes with recommendations for holistic, intelligence-driven security and identifies future research opportunities in cross-cloud frameworks and explainable AI.