Head in the Cloud: Security for a Hyper-Connected Era

Everyone’s big into AI at the minute. You can’t go two scrolls down your LinkedIn feed without seeing someone shilling the time-saving benefits of ChatGPT. Do we think Enterprise-level AI is an inevitable transformative step? 

Well, the recent PwC CEO survey reports that 77% of UK tech CEOs are investing in deploying advanced technologies like Cloud and AI to empower businesses with greater efficiency and data-driven decision making.  

We wrote recently about how Data is reaching a new frontier this year; but practically, what is widespread adoption of Cloud Tech going to look like?  

Cloudy With A Chance Of Cyber Attacks 

It’s clear that investment in Cloud technology is a key focus this year. But as adoption picks up speed, so will the risk of cyber-attacks. 

Tom Lewis, Technology Partner at PwC UK, says:  

“Cloud [tech] can help reduce cost and complexity today but is also the foundation on which digital transformations will be built, from quickly delivering new services and platforms to giving organisations more advanced analytics capabilities and creating closer integration, across businesses, ecosystems and supply chains.” 

Read on as we explore the security risks posed by cloud technology, plus insights into creating a bulletproof security strategy.  

Time To Get Cis-ky: The Risks Posed By Cloud Tech Adoption 

Want to migrate operations into the Cloud? It's critical to think about security from the outset. Right at the beginning of your adoption plan, consider the following risk factors: 

• Data breaches: With sensitive information stored in the cloud, it's crucial that you implement strong security measures to protect your IP. 

• Out of date CyberSec: As you move operations to the cloud, we guarantee you’ll run into insufficient cyber security protocols. Some will be entirely out of date, others patchy at best. In fact, 98% of cyberattacks are successful not because they’re sophisticated, but because the infrastructure is elementary.

• Supply Chain attacks: CSO magazine recently rated supply chain attacks as “hot” for 2023. Tongue-in-cheek, we know. James Globe, vice president of operations at the Centre for Internet Security (CIS), says supply chain attacks are likely to remain a major concern this year. This comes as 55% of security professionals reported an incident or breach involving supply chain or third-party providers in the past 12 months (Forrester data).  

Attackers want the best bang for their buck. So, in a business landscape increasingly reliant on 3rd party providers, why not target your MSP or CSP?  

(I Can’t Get No) Cloud Adoption: Enterprise Cloud Adoption 

Got your risk assessment down? Time to think about what your adoption roadmap could look like. Nothing worthwhile is ever easy, right? 

Things to think about: 

• How secure are you now? Conduct a security assessment – assess your security posture, identify vulnerabilities, etc.  

• How clued up is your organisation on CyberSec? Tom Lewis at PwC says CEOs don’t need everyone “to become a technologist”. “But,” he warns, “they do need everyone to understand what technology can do for them - what the art of the possible is.” 

• Going 3rd party? Do your due diligence. With supply chain attacks on the rise, your focus should be on finding a provider with a strong reputation for security and privacy.  

Cloud Strategies Have Layers 

From the beginning, you should be contingency planning for the upkeep of your Cloud tech investment. CISOs – this is your bread and butter.  

• Regular security assessments: Encrypted data – both in transit and at rest – helps protect against potential breaches and delivers insight-led trends.  

• Permissions-based access control: Strong access controls including multi-factor authentication, permission levels, and IP blocking are all great ways to maximise security across your organisation.  

• Keep an eye on the sky: Real-time monitoring gives you invaluable insight into what an attack or data breach looks like for your organisation. Plus, you’ll be able to detect and respond to potential threats more quickly.  

Eye In The Sky: What does a future CIO/CISO look like?

As technology continues to shape and propel business growth, the role of the senior Security and Ops leader is also evolving to keep pace.  

With 85% of CIOs recognising that their role is becoming increasingly digital and innovation-focused, it seems the pressure is on to be both a business strategist and a security expert. 

Over the next few years, budgets for CyberSec and DevSecOps are anticipated to increase despite mounting economic uncertainty. If this is your domain, your focus is likely to be on: 

• Driving business innovation  
• Modernising infrastructure 
• Redesigning business processes  
• Increasing your involvement in cybersecurity, data analytics, privacy and AI 
• Increasing your expertise in integration and cloud architecture 

It's not going to be easy balancing these competing demands.   

And as the UK continues to struggle to bridge skills deficits in specialist roles, investing in your existing workforce via upskilling and training will make all the difference. Home-grown talent, treated right, is less likely to leave – especially if they’ve been instrumental to the delivery of such a core change programme.  

Looking for the best cybersecurity talent?

As priorities shift, so does the overall profile of a workforce. The right talent in your organisation is crucial to ensure you can successfully navigate these next few years.  

Looking for a new cybersecurity role? Search Jobs on our site.  

Ready to make your Cloud Adoption Strategy a reality? Get in touch with one of our expert consultants. We’ll scope out exactly what it is you need and offer timely insight into how you can staff your projects.  

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