Cloud automation is key to future-proofing cybersecurity, reveals Delinea

Delinea, a provider of privileged access management (PAM) solutions for seamless security, has released a new survey-based report highlighting the importance of cloud automation in future-proofing cybersecurity, particularly when combined with autonomous privileges and access. Eighty-six percent (86%) of respondents are looking into ways to automate access controls, particularly for privileged access. Despite the fact that 68 percent of respondents have increased their budgets and staff, they continue to face mounting threats from an expanding threatscape that they are unable to address.

The report, titled “Cloud Automation is the Key to Future-Proofing Cybersecurity,” includes responses from over 300 IT decision-makers who took part in a February 2022 survey conducted by global research firm Censuswide on Delinea’s behalf. The report outlines key insights for developing a security strategy that supports future growth and provides guidance on navigating the complex and ever-changing cybersecurity landscape.

Future-proofing refers to any product, service, or technological system that is designed to continue working without major updates as time passes and technology continues to work against future cyber threats, eventually eliminating the need to rip and replace systems and infrastructure. According to 59% of respondents, the most important factor driving their need to future-proof their access security in 2022 is increasingly complex, multi-cloud IT environments.

The survey also discovered that when organizations become overly confident in their security measures, future-proofing becomes even more important. Despite the challenges ahead and the knowledge that automation will be critical to their future success, 83 percent of respondents are confident in their current access controls, despite the fact that two out of every three businesses have been victims of cyber attacks.

“This survey report presents a conundrum, as respondents feel confident in their current cybersecurity postures, despite a significant amount of breaches being caused by compromised credentials. Yet they also realize that the way to secure the future of their organizations is through cloud automation, which for most presents a dynamic shift in approach, investments, and resources,” said Joseph Carson, Advisory CISO and Chief Security Scientist at Delinea. “Today’s cyberthreats are faster, more intelligent, and more dangerous. To prevent security blunders and survive in today’s unpredictable landscape, organizations must lean heavily on automation and embrace least privilege and zero trust best practices at every turn.”

Additional findings in the report include:

• 71% are confident they can recover quickly from a cyberattack
• 69% think their current privileged access approach is either very mature or mature
• 89% monitor and can alert on unauthorized privileged activity

With the release of this report, Delinea now advises businesses to embrace cloud automation and autonomous privileged access as essential components for future-proofing. Simultaneously, they should give up manual and complex workflows that slow down business.