NetIQ announced the results of a cloud security survey commissioned through IDG Connect. It suggests that while companies have become increasingly comfortable with the security of third-party cloud service providers, data security – particularly at the end user level – as well as concerns over meeting compliance requirements, remain top-of-mind among cloud adopters.
Fifty-one percent of IT executives surveyed believe that the cloud increases data security overall. However, almost 70 percent of respondents indicated that consumer cloud services pose a risk to sensitive data in their organisations and 45 percent are not fully confident that their cloud provider’s security processes and programs meet their data security requirements.
Findings
45 percent do not have full visibility and control of their cloud-based data when users sign up on their own.
Only 46 percent train end users on how they should securely access data in the cloud.
42 percent of organisations are not fully confident that they demonstrate regulatory compliance concerning sensitive information/assets in the cloud.
59 percent are very confident in their ability to control and manage access from mobile devices to cloud services.
Geoff Webb, director, Solution Strategy at NetIQ, said: “These survey findings demonstrate that IT executives are feeling more confident in the execution of their cloud security strategies and programs. However, this confidence may be at odds with the concerns security teams have while addressing an ever-increasing number of threats to corporate information. Data-centric security programs remain the most targeted and effective way to build security programs ready to embrace the complexities inherent in adopting cloud. Identifying sensitive data, applying appropriate layers of protection around that data, and tracking who is accessing it remain the best ways to respond to threats, meet regulatory requirements and minimise organisational risk.”
This survey was on behalf of NetIQ by IDG Connect to understand perceptions about cloud security worldwide. Researchers interviewed IT executives at companies with 500 or more employees. Sixty-one percent of respondents occupied director-level or higher roles within their organisation. The overall number of respondents was split between those from North America (36 percent), EMEA (36 percent) and APAC (28 percent). Full survey results are available at http://cloudreadyzone.com/.
