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Security concerns around data storage in the cloud has prompted some 44pc of CISOs to change cloud service provider, according to a survey for a cyber firm. This is being driven by the fact that 24pc donโt believe their cloud is secure, and 43pc think cloud service providers over-promised the security protection they would receive. The survey commissioned by Arctic Wolf looked at CISOsโ security challenges in the cloud, and looked at how organisations can improve their security posture with managed service providers (MSPs).
As the cyber firm says, cloud providers have become ever more critical to firms, as the technology enables workers to access files and services from anywhere. He ce the survey found most, 73 per cent of CISOs working with between two and five cloud service providers to support all the needs of their companyโs workforce. However, this expanded threat surface, plus a lack of in-house skills to secure it, means about half, 53pc of CISOs rely on a security-first mindset from their cloud providers. Some CISOs feel some cloud providers overinflating their security offering, leaving organisations exposed to cyber risks. As a result, CISOs are having to be more careful about the provider they choose to partner with, with about half, 52pc stating they would avoid cloud providers based on previous security incidents.
The cost and resources needed for organisations to boost their own security skills and technology is often too prohibitive, the firm suggests. For example, the business advisory firm KPMG estimates the annual budget for a security operations centre (SOC) is $14.6m, which far outstrips many annual budgets, let alone their IT spend. Hence some businesses outsource IT. For instance, 37pc of CISOs who use a channel partner in a cloud migration saw an increase in security and risk management services, and 30pc gained access to advanced technology like AI.
Not only do channel partners and MSPs help boost security, they can also provide stability to the role of a CISO, the cyber firm suggests, with 92pc stating it helps protect their jobs by sharing responsibility in case there is a cyber-attack. Only 22pc of CISOs surveyed said that they use a channel partner in their cloud migration process.
Clare Loveridge, VP and General Manager EMEA at Arctic Wolf said: โIt is clear that many organisations are struggling when it comes to securing cloud environments. A combination of underdelivering cloud providers and a lack of in-house skills is resulting in a dangerous situation which can leave valuable company data exposed to risk. Simply adding more technology will not solve this problem.โ
โSecuring the cloud is a shared responsibility between the cloud provider and the organisation. While cloud providers offer good security tools it is important that you have a team of security experts to help you run the operation. Someone needs to be always on the lookout for emerging threats and be ready to respond in real time. This is why organisations can really benefit by partnering with a MSP to ensure they have the most up-to-date protection, and the relevant skills required to combat bad actors in this evolving threat landscape. Partnerships like this give customers the peace of mind, knowing that they make the most of their cloud environments safe in the knowledge they are protected.โ
