SECURITY

Survey reveals over half of organisations face cloud security incidents , highlighting the urgent need for enhanced cybersecurity skills and training .

heck Point Software Technologies ,

The 2024 Cloud Security Report indicates a significant gap in skills , with more than half of surveyed security professionals rating their team ’ s capabilities as average or below .

• Rise in cloud security incidents : 61 % of organisations experienced at least one security incident related to public cloud use in the past year , a significant increase from 24 % the previous year . Data breaches were the most common and can lead to severe fines and reputational damage . The upcoming NIS2 directive will likely heighten the impact of such breaches .

• Barriers to cybersecurity defence : Lack of security awareness among employees is the top barrier , cited by 41 % of experts . A shortage of qualified personnel is another major concern , with 32 % of respondents identifying a lack of cybersecurity skills as a key issue for organisations .

• Training and skills gap : Despite the importance of cybersecurity training , 44 % of organisations only provide training annually . A mere 26 % conduct monthly sessions , contributing to a skills deficit and increasing vulnerability to sophisticated cyberattacks .

• Shortage of cybersecurity experts :

Ram Narayanan , Country Manager at Check Point Software Technologies , Middle East

76 % of survey respondents reported a shortage of cybersecurity experts within their organisations . Despite facing more sophisticated threats , 52 % rated their team ’ s security skills as average or below average , risking significant financial damages from successful attacks .

• Impact of AI technologies : The integration of AI and ML technologies intensifies the need for new skills . 49 % of respondents indicated a need for their security experts to acquire new AI-related skills , while 35 % are concerned about the lack of knowledge hindering AI adoption . Access to training and resources is crucial for overcoming these barriers .

“ Organisations must prioritise education and prevention in cybersecurity ,” said Ram

Narayanan , Country Manager at Check Point Software Technologies , Middle East . “ It ’ s concerning that while 40 % of organisations view prevention and mitigation as their biggest challenge , only 21 % prioritise it . This disconnect suggests that many don ’ t believe prevention is achievable in their current state .”

Companies must reassess their approach to security , prioritising prevention , education and the use of top-tier security solutions . In cybersecurity , second best is not enough . Currently , 36 % of organisations doubt their ability to handle unknown risks and zero-day attacks like Log4j , while 55 % have some confidence but still harbour concerns . However , sophisticated solutions like Check Point CloudGuard offer advanced protection , enhancing the overall security posture . As part of the Check Point Infinity Platform , CloudGuard enables centralised and automated security management , compliance and policy enforcement , providing comprehensive visibility and control over cloud environments .

To address the cybersecurity skills gap , Check Point is actively involved in education through its Infinity Platform Services . This includes providing a variety of training programmes and certification courses , incorporating interactive and gamified learning methods such as escape rooms and hacker hunts to make learning engaging and effective . These resources help organisations elevate their security teams to the next level of expertise .

Organisations facing technological challenges or skill gaps need to proactively update their strategies . Cybercriminals are relentless in exploiting any weakness , making it crucial for companies to strengthen their defences and adapt to the evolving threat landscape .

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