Check Point report shows 154% rise in cloud security incidents in 2024

Check Point Software Technologies has released its 2024 Cloud Security Report, exposing a critical upswing in cloud security incidents. These findings demonstrate a substantial rise from 24% in 2023 to 61% in 2024, marking an increase of 154% within a year. The report amplifies the rising complexity and frequency of cloud threats, revealing the escalating sophistication of cyber criminals in cloud environments.

Interestingly, the report divulged that 96% of respondents expressed concerns about their ability to manage emerging cloud risks effectively. This suggests a significant shift in perception from previous years, raising red flags about the ability of standard threat mitigation strategies to keep up with the complexity of contemporary cyber threats. Consequently, it evidences the urgency of addressing these fast-evolving threats with innovative solutions.

Additionally, the report explicates a vital shift in security strategies, illustrated by the fact that 91% of organisations are now prioritising artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance their defence mechanisms. This represents a significant move towards adopting AI-driven technologies for proactive threat prevention, moving away from the reactive approaches observed in earlier surveys.

The integration of cloud security has demonstrated complexities for 54% of respondents due to maintaining consistent regulatory standards across multi-cloud environments. Additionally, 49% faced difficulties integrating cloud services into legacy systems. These struggles suggest that the potential for more streamlined solutions is often complicated by limited IT resources.

The report's findings give insight into the urgent need for a comprehensive, collaborative, and AI-driven cybersecurity framework. Check Point's CloudGuard product is highlighted as offering actionable security and smarter prevention that effectively strengthens organisations' overall security posture. The product is part of Check Point's Infinity Platform, which aims to centralise and automate security processes, compliance, and rule sets, thereby improving visibility and control over cloud environments.

The 2024 Cloud Security Report was conducted by Cybersecurity Insiders in April 2024. It surveyed 813 cybersecurity experts from across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and other regions and included a diverse group of executives, IT security professionals, and staff from a wide range of industries and business sizes. This in-depth analysis of the measures organisations are taking to tackle security obstacles in their use of cloud services also illustrates the significance that advancements like AI play in this crucial area." The Check Point Software Technologies Chief Strategy Officer, Itai Greenberg, urges adopting a consolidated security architecture and enhancing collaborative security operations, saying businesses can "preemptively tackle emerging threats, ensuring a more secure and resilient cloud environment."

Overall, the 2024 Cloud Security Report offers significant insights for organisations, emphasising the key challenges they face in managing cloud environments and the pressing need to deploy more effective and sophisticated security strategies.