Security Feature

Companies have shown mixed feelings about cloud infrastructure security. This is illustrated in the findings in a recent survey by software and professional services firm Clutch. Respondents named cloud solutions both the number one benefit and most frequently encountered challenge.

The survey also highlighted ongoing perspectives specifically on cloud security as it has evolved over the years and the technology has improved. Industry leaders from major technology companies have also weighed in on this data as the enterprise touts cloud infrastructure security, but challenges remain. 

One of the primary drivers for the ongoing improvement security measures in the cloud is regulatory concerns. Enterprises are under increasingly strict regulation in the U.S., for example, from the federal, and state levels.  This is particularly true in areas where protection of personal information is “mission critical” in sectors such as healthcare and financial services.  Additionally, there are lingering security concerns about the security of cloud itself.  And, while many of these concerns have been addressed with the evolution of solutions and the adoption of things like encryption, data tenancy, authentication, identity, etc., skepticism remains.   

Some of the interesting security statistics shared in the report include the findings that additional security measure enterprises implement the most are data encryption (60 percent). This was followed by identity access policies (52 percent), and regular audits (48 percent).  It was also noted that to implement additional cloud security, more than half of enterprises (59 percent) spend between $10,000 and $500,000.

At the end of the day, the survey is an interesting look at how the evolution of cloud and security is intermeshed with enterprise needs and concerns. In many ways, enterprises still see compliance as a deterrent to cloud usage, and the information available as well as the products that exist in the marketplace round out a compelling spectrum of cloud security advantages that are hard to deny.

Still, there is a lot of work to be done as the features, functions, and improved security features that are commonly available need to be communicated with those that are still in the camp of staying on the fringes of cloud adoption.