In an era of digital transformation, businesses are increasingly relying on cloud services to store and manage their data. With cyber threats evolving at an unprecedented pace, understanding the state of cloud security is crucial for safeguarding sensitive data and preserving operational continuity. This is made worse with the growing adoption of cloud technologies, the risk of cyber attacks and data breaches targeting cloud assets has also surged. Security remains a paramount concern for businesses and organizations worldwide. Thales’ 2023 Cloud Security study highlights the growing threat landscape surrounding cloud assets, revealing that they have become prime targets for cyberattacks. This report is based on a survey from nearly 3,000 IT and security professionals across 18 countries in the Americas, Asia Pacific and EMEA (Europe, the Middle East and Africa), and this report focuses on the latest cloud security threats, trends and emerging risks. In this article, we delve into the key takeaways from the report, empowering businesses to fortify their cloud defenses and embrace the full potential of the cloud. Key Findings
Key Cloud Data Concerns: Few Data Is Encrypted & Lack Of Key Control Despite the dramatic increase in sensitive data stored in the cloud, and the increase in businesses that have experienced a data breach:
This is a true cause of concern as not only is there still a vast amount of cloud data that is not encrypted, there is also a lack of control over encryption keys by businesses. End-to-end encryption is especially important as it protects data throughout its entire lifecycle. Leveraging encryption effectively helps ensure that even if attackers manage to breach cloud defenses, they cannot access the encrypted data without the decryption keys. Complexity Added With Adoption Of Multi-Cloud The adoption of multi-cloud continues to increase, with 79% of organizations having more than 1 cloud provider. Not only the multi-cloud but also the use of SaaS apps have increased significantly. 22% of respondents reported their enterprises utilized 51-100 different SaaS applications. This is an increase from the 16% reported in 2021. The expansion of cloud usage has also resulted in a significant challenge. More than half (55%) expressed that managing data in the cloud is more complex than on-premises environments. This is a 9% increase compared to the previous year. Digital sovereignty, which is about how a state regulates and exercises control over the technology and services used, is also a priority for respondents, whereby 83% expressed concerns over data sovereignty. Furthermore, 55% of respondents agreed that data privacy and compliance in the cloud has become more difficult. Lack of Zero-Trust Controls Only 41% of organizations surveyed have implemented zero trust controls in their cloud infrastructure. The percentage decreases even further (to 38%) on those that employ zero trust controls within their cloud networks. This is another concern, as zero trust is based on the principle of "never trust, always verify." This is important as in today’s rapidly evolving cyber threats, traditional security models that rely on perimeter defenses and trust-based approaches are no longer sufficient to protect organizations against advanced cyber threats. Unlike traditional security models, the Zero Trust model challenges this assumption by treating every user, device, and application as potentially untrusted, regardless of their location. This ensures that only authorized entities can access sensitive resources. For more information about zero trust best practices do see this article: Zero Trust Best Practices: Securing Your Digital Ecosystem SaaS Creating Cybersecurity Challenges Not only do the majority of companies surveyed have multiple cloud key management systems but also with the increased use of SaaS apps, this expands the threat surface for data exfiltration.
This with the fact that SaaS was ranked as the leading target for hackers (38%), then followed by cloud storage at 36%, shows there is a true concern for the wide range of software applications used. The Human Factor: Addressing Human Errors The human factor remains a crucial consideration in cloud security. From accidental data exposure to insider threats, human errors can have severe consequences for cloud security.
To reduce human errors, comprehensive training programs and strict access controls are needed to mitigate insider-related risks. Takeaway The Thales 2023 Cloud Security Report provides invaluable insights into the ever-evolving cloud security landscape. By understanding the challenges and best practices highlighted in the report, organizations can bolster their cloud security defenses, protect sensitive data, and maintain operational continuity. In a digital age where the cloud serves as a catalyst for innovation and growth, it is essential for businesses to embrace cloud security as an integral part of their overall cybersecurity strategy. Let us empower ourselves with the knowledge from this report and navigate the cloud security landscape with confidence, ensuring that our cloud deployments are safe, resilient, and ready to unleash their full potential. Related Topics Zero Trust Best Practices: Securing Your Digital Ecosystem What is Zero Trust Model? Definition, Principles and It's Benefits 7 Types of Cyber Security Measures SMEs Need to Protect Their Business The Common Signs Of Being Cyberattacked Comments are closed.
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