Now more than ever, organisations across industries are embracing cloud computing to enable their businesses with agility at scale. According to a recent industry study, more than 90 percent of global enterprises are already using the cloud in some shape or form.
The rise of cloud innovations has undeniably changed business processes as we know them. Over the past couple of years, driven by the Covid-19 pandemic, cloud adoption has accelerated as global and regional companies respond to a new business and social dynamic.
By 2025, more and more organisations are expected to shift to the cloud with spending on the technology forecasted to reach $1.8 trillion, according to Gartner.
In the Middle East, national agendas from countries such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain among others have put significant focus on digital transformation. This makes the region an attractive market to invest in for global hyperscalers.
Amazon Web Services (AWS) – one of the world’s leading cloud computing providers, is set to open data centres in the UAE. The launch is part of the company’s commitment to helping public and private sector organisations create highly available, highly resilient services. This will present regional customers with more choice and flexibility to leverage advanced cloud technologies.
However, as the cloud ecosystem grows, it is inevitable that the risks will too.
Keeping an eye on cloud security
If your organisation relies on the cloud, then cloud security needs to be a top priority for your business. A vital component of cloud security is centred on protecting data and other digital assets. According to a recent industry report, the average cost of a security breach is $4.24 million across all industries. More than financial losses, a security incident can have more fallouts for a business. It also has repercussions such as ransomware costs, reputational damage and legal consequences, which can shutter a business overnight.
Therefore, it is paramount for organisations to boost their digital guardrails and invest in the tools and processes that are vital in ensuring effective security in the cloud. It is also important to note that while innovations from global cloud providers such as AWS have been designed with security in mind, organisations still need to bear responsibility for ensuring that they have the right safeguards in place.
Hacking the skills gap
Organisations need the right skills to manage security controls, maintain a robust security posture, and mitigate cyber threats.
The harsh reality today is that many security teams are short-staffed as the global skills shortage continues to expand. There are not enough individuals with the skill-set and experience that employers are looking for to fill vital security positions. Alarmingly, 80 percent of businesses globally suffered one or more breaches that they attribute to a lack of cybersecurity skills and/or awareness.
As global cloud provides increase their presence in the Middle East and local providers accelerate their offerings, regional organisations need to bolster their security capabilities to take full advantage of the cloud.
To navigate the skills gap challenge, business leaders can look to upskill or even reskill the talents that they do have. This can be accomplished by training employees on cloud security best practices. It’s also helpful to provide access to various resources and references that can help them stay abreast of ever-changing security threats.
For the more technically adept and cloud-knowledgeable employees, organisations should invest in upskilling them. They can do so by enrolling them in programmes such as the AWS Training and Certification to advance their security skills and maximise their organisation’s journey to the AWS Cloud.
Training with the right partner
Whether your team prefers to learn from live instructors, on-demand courses or virtual classrooms, finding the right training partner is essential to the success of upskilling and reskilling initiatives.
Organisations such as Spectrum Networks, a Dubai-based corporate training and consulting firm, can help businesses address the skills gap. As an AWS Training Partner, Spectrum Networks offers AWS training courses covering fundamentals, DevOps, SysOps, architecture, security, and more, delivered through instructor-led virtual and on-premises classes.
To further support businesses in the region improve their security posture in the AWS Cloud, Spectrum Networks, in partnership with ITP.net, will host a webinar titled, ‘Securing your AWS Cloud’ on 27th June 2022.
As digital initiatives yield more innovations, the threat landscape will only continue to grow. In order for cloud security strategies to succeed, organisations need to understand that their investments should not only focus on investing in the latest tools but also in boosting the skills of their workforce.
