Fortinet’s report unveils cloud security trends and challenges in Saudi Arabia. Hybrid cloud adoption is rising, but security concerns and talent gaps remain.
Fortinet, the global cybersecurity leader driving the convergence of networking and security, released the 2024 Cloud Security Report, which provides critical insights into the current trends driving cloud security. It focuses on the key challenges that organizations face in safeguarding complex cloud environments and offers a thorough examination of security solutions and strategies to ensure effective data and system protection.
Based on a comprehensive survey of 927 cybersecurity professionals worldwide, the report offers valuable guidance for Saudi organizations seeking to adopt cloud computing technologies safely and efficiently. Its release underscores Fortinet’s commitment to supporting Saudi Arabia’s digital transformation journey by offering advanced security solutions that help organizations protect their cloud environments and enhance their cybersecurity capabilities. This aligns with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to build a secure and prosperous digital economy.
According to the report, 78% of organizations globally adopt hybrid and multi-cloud strategies. These organizations prefer integrating multi-deployment operations into a single operational environment to leverage the flexibility, control, and unique advantages of various cloud services.
The report indicates that 43% of these organizations prefer hybrid infrastructure combining public and private cloud platforms. Meanwhile, 35% are adopting a multi-cloud strategy, reflecting a preference for leveraging the strengths of different cloud service providers to meet various use cases. Only 22% rely on a single cloud provider.
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These findings indicate that organizations increasingly recognize the benefits of adopting a hybrid or multi-cloud approach to achieve their strategic goals and enhance customer experiences. These global trends align with the Saudi government’s focus on supporting the adoption of cloud computing technologies and diversifying cloud service providers, contributing to digital transformation across all sectors in the Kingdom.
59% of respondents in the report cited security and compliance issues as the primary barriers to faster adoption of multi-cloud strategies. Technical challenges follow closely, with 52% highlighting that cloud adoption isn’t always straightforward. It requires specific skills and technologies to manage complex cloud environments, potentially hindering organizations lacking these resources from embracing the cloud.
Additionally, 49% of participants recognize that resource limitations, including a lack of staff expertise and budget constraints, pose significant hurdles to the success of cloud initiatives. This underscores the importance of adequate human and financial resources investment to develop the necessary skills and manage cloud environments effectively.
These challenges also highlight the critical need for robust cloud security solutions that can address the evolving threat landscape and regulatory requirements in Saudi Arabia.
The report found that 93% of organizations are concerned about the industry-wide shortage of qualified cybersecurity professionals, directly affecting their security posture and strategic cloud initiatives.
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The widening gap between the growing demand for skilled cybersecurity talent and the limited workforce is intensifying security vulnerabilities in an increasingly complex cyber landscape. Fortinet underscores that Saudi organizations should adopt a multifaceted strategy to address this challenge. This involves strengthening partnerships with academic institutions to attract fresh talent, investing in training programs to cultivate internal expertise, and adapting to the evolving demands of cloud security.
Most (95%) of respondents advocate for a single, integrated cloud security platform to streamline security management, mitigate the talent gap, and enhance security through consistent policy enforcement and visibility across cloud environments.
With a unified platform, organizations can reduce the operational burden of navigating multiple security interfaces, enhance their overall security posture, and provide effective protection against automated and sophisticated attacks. This approach aligns with Saudi Arabia’s focus on leveraging advanced technologies, including unified cloud security solutions, to strengthen cybersecurity and drive digital transformation across all its sectors.
