Fortinet Cloud Security Report 2024

Keypoints

• The report is structured into sections covering cloud deployment strategies, adoption trends, security concerns, operational challenges, talent gaps, budget trends, and recommended security strategies, providing a comprehensive view of the current cloud security landscape.
• A majority (78%) of organizations favor hybrid or multi-cloud approaches, combining flexibility and control, while only 22% rely on a single cloud provider, reflecting a strategic move towards diversification but increasing security complexity.
• Most organizations (71%) utilize two or more cloud providers, driven by regional needs, specialized services, and redundancy, demanding consistent security policies across multi-cloud environments.
• Microsoft Azure and AWS remain the dominant cloud infrastructure services used by 62% and 54% of surveyed organizations, with growing interest in Oracle Cloud and Google Cloud, indicating a diversified cloud ecosystem.
• Security and compliance concerns (59%) persist as the top barriers to rapid cloud adoption, alongside technical challenges (52%) and resource constraints (49%), emphasizing the need for advanced security expertise and resource investment.
• Over 44% of respondents see higher risks of security breaches in public clouds compared to on-premises, yet 96% remain highly concerned about cloud security, underscoring ongoing perceptions of vulnerability.
• Operational challenges include managing data security (58%), configuration (55%), access control (54%), and threat response (50%), highlighting the critical need for automation and integrated security tools.
• Securing multi-cloud environments remains complex, with 55% citing data protection and privacy as top challenges, along with skills shortages (93%), which directly impact security posture.
• There is widespread concern about industry-wide cybersecurity talent shortages, with 74% of organizations experiencing or worried about a scarcity of qualified professionals, hampering security effectiveness.
• Skills in cloud security, identity management, and governance are deemed essential, with 60%, 59%, and 58% of respondents respectively emphasizing their importance in mitigating threats.
• Most organizations (61%) plan to increase their cloud security budgets, reflecting recognition of the escalating threats and investment in advanced security solutions.
• Cost, scalability, and faster deployment drive the adoption of cloud-based security solutions, with 56% citing scalability as a key factor.
• The overwhelming majority (95%) favor a unified cloud security platform to streamline policy management and improve visibility across diverse cloud environments.
• Adopting best practices such as unified platforms, cloud-agnostic security, automation, and enhanced configuration management are critical for effective cloud security, as outlined in strategic recommendations.
• The survey includes perspectives from a broad community of cybersecurity professionals globally, representing multiple industries and organizational sizes, underpinning the report’s comprehensive insights.