One survey pointed to this and five other cloud security trends requiring AI, consolidated security architecture and enhanced collaborative security operations
In an Apr 2024 survey of 813 IT/cyber professionals* spanning North America, Europe, the Asia Pacific region, and other regions on cloud security trends, some key findings were noted from the data.
First, among the respondents a significant increase in cloud security incidents, from 24% in 2023 (from a similar survey) to 61% in the 2024 survey period. While most respondents continued to prioritize threat detection and monitoring, focusing on known vulnerabilities and patterns of malicious behavior, 21% chose to emphasize prevention.
Second, only 4% of respondents indicated that they were able to mitigate risks easily and quickly, with 96% expressing concern about their ability to handle such risks. In addition, 91% of respondents were alarmed by the surge in more sophisticated cyber threats, including unknown risks and zero-day attacks, which cannot be detected using conventional security tools.
Other findings
Third, respondents’ data showed a near-40% increase in cloud security incidents compared to a similar survey performed last year, with 61% of organizations reporting “significant disruptions”. Also:
- 91% of respondents indicated they were prioritizing AI to enhance their security posture, shifting focus towards proactive threat prevention.
- 25% of respondents cited having fully implemented Cloud Native Application Protection Platforms.
- 54% of respondents cited facing challenges in maintaining consistent regulatory standards across multi-cloud environments. Additionally, 49% indicated struggling with integrating cloud services into legacy systems, often complicated by limited IT resources.
According to Itai Greenberg, Chief Strategy Officer, Check Point Software Technologies, the firm that commissioned the survey: “By adopting a consolidated security architecture and enhancing collaborative security operations, businesses can preemptively tackle emerging threats, ensuring a more secure and resilient cloud environment.” The firm advises organizations to embrace a more comprehensive, collaborative, and AI-driven cybersecurity framework.
*Participants included a diverse group of executives, IT security professionals, and staff from a wide range of industries and business sizes (the largest segment being 32% with 1,000 to 4,999 employees, followed by 24% with over 10,000 employees.
