The Urgent Need for Cyber Security Expertise in Cloud Environments
The protection of cloud environments is under threat due to a lack of cyber security expertise and employee training, according to a recent study by Check Point Software.
According to the 2024 Cloud Security Report, a staggering 61% of organizations have experienced security incidents related to public cloud use in the past year, a significant increase from 24% the previous year. Shockingly, 21% of these incidents resulted in data breaches.
Addressing the Skills Gap
A shortage of cyber security skills was cited by 32% of respondents as a major barrier to effective cyber defense in cloud environments. Additionally, 41% highlighted the lack of security awareness among employees as another significant hurdle.
Figures from ISC2 revealed that cloud computing security is among the top skills gaps in security teams, emphasizing the critical need for training and education in this area.
Despite the evident need for training, only 44% of organizations provide cyber security training annually, with a mere 26% conducting monthly sessions. This skills deficit leaves organizations vulnerable to sophisticated cyberattacks.
“Education and prevention are paramount in cybersecurity,” said Muhammad Yahya Patel, lead security engineer at Check Point Software. “It is alarming that while 40% of organizations identify prevention and mitigation as their biggest challenge, only 21% prioritize it. This misalignment suggests that many organizations do not see prevention as achievable in their current state.”
The Impact of AI Integration
The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technologies has further intensified the need for new skills in the cybersecurity field. The report revealed that 49% of respondents believe their security experts need to acquire new AI-related skills, while 35% express concerns about the lack of knowledge hindering AI adoption. Access to training and resources is crucial to overcoming these barriers.
Data security breaches, misuse of cloud services, and configuration errors were identified as the top cloud security incidents in the report, underscoring the urgent need for enhanced cyber security measures.
This study gathered insights from over 800 cloud and cybersecurity professionals, highlighting the widespread concern over the current state of cloud security practices.