Shift in strategy around cloud adoption and security

Cloud adoption does not have to mean opening up your organization to increased security risks and threats if the right policies are in place, according to a new CSA survey.

Security professionals indicated receiving, on average, 10.6 requests each month for new cloud services. Perhaps that’s why 71.2% of companies now have a formal process for users to request new cloud services.

“As a growing number of companies have become more confident in cloud security measures and, with that, are moving their systems of records to the cloud, the role of IT and its relationship to the line of business is changing,” said Jim Reavis, CEO of the CSA. “This survey provides excellent insight into what security professionals are doing to minimize the risks and maximize the benefits of transforming their businesses into cloud-first organizations.”

Report highlights

• Customer relationship management (CRM) is the most widely used cloud-based system of record today, but companies have plans to move other systems to the cloud including sales and HR.
• Cloud confidence rising: 64.9% of IT leaders think the cloud is as secure or more secure than on premises software.
• CISOs play an important role in security – having one makes a company more likely to take steps to prepare for a cyber attacks.
• The top barrier to stopping data loss in the cloud is a lack of skilled security professionals.
• 24.6% of companies would be willing to pay a ransom to hackers to prevent a cyber attack and 14.0% would pay more than $1 million.

“The benefits of switching your system of records over to the cloud are known – lower cost, faster implementation, and a better user experience,” said Rajiv Gupta CEO of Skyhigh Networks. “What is not known is how this massive disruption will change the day to day activities and role of IT and security professionals. The opportunities are endless when these smart individuals can focus on becoming enablers to their business and partners with lines of business to make IT a truly innovative force.”