The rush towards digital transformation is accelerating at an unprecedented pace. Many enterprises are finding themselves in precarious positions regarding their data security.
According to the 2019 Thales Data Threat Report, businesses adopting multi-cloud deployments are facing significant challenges in securing their sensitive data. The findings are alarming, highlighting the risks and complexities associated with this rapid transformation.
Digital Transformation and Data Security Risks
In the drive for digital transformation, numerous organisations worldwide are risking their sensitive data. The 2019 Thales Data Threat Report, backed by research from IDC, discovered that a substantial number of enterprises implementing multi-cloud systems are struggling to ensure proper data security.
The study included insights from 1,200 executives across nine countries, with 97% acknowledged their engagement in digital transformation. Worryingly, the approval of using and exposing sensitive data in these environments is almost universal.
Encryption Usage Amidst Transformation
Aggressive digital transformers are notably vulnerable to data breaches. Astonishingly, less than a third of these entities (just 30%) employ encryption within their digital environments.
There are areas where encryption adoption is somewhat better: Internet of Things (42%), Containers (47%), and Big Data (45%). Despite these numbers, the overall picture remains concerning.
Complexity of Multi-Cloud Environments
As companies migrate to cloud or multi-cloud environments for digital transformation, protecting sensitive data becomes increasingly intricate. The report indicates nine out of ten respondents are either using or planning to use some type of cloud environment.
However, 44% cited the complexity of these environments as a significant barrier to proper data security measures. Alarmingly, this complexity outranked challenges like staff requirements, budget constraints, and organisational buy-in.
This highlights a pressing need for simplified, more effective data security approaches in multi-cloud settings.
Data Breaches: A Common Occurrence
Globally, 60% of organisations have experienced a data breach at some point, with 30% reporting incidents in the past year alone. This pervasive issue underscores the inadequate security measures currently in place.
Frank Dickson, research vice president for security products at IDC, remarked, “Our research shows that no organisation is immune from data security threats. In fact, we found that the most sophisticated organisations are more likely to indicate that they have experienced a data security breach.”
Sophistication and Risk Correlation
Dickson further elaborated that this trend remains consistent regardless of how sophistication is defined: whether through higher expenditure on IT security, a larger portion of the security budget dedicated to data security, or advanced stages in digital transformation.
This correlation suggests that as organisations become more advanced, their vulnerability to data breaches does not diminish but may rather increase.
Strategic Data Security and Encryption
Tina Stewart, vice president of market strategy at Thales eSecurity, emphasised the critical nature of data security. She stated, “Organisations need to take a fresh look at how they implement a data security and encryption strategy to support their transition to the cloud while meeting regulatory and compliance mandates.”
This perspective is essential as enterprises continue navigating the complexities of digital transformation and the ever-evolving threat landscape.
Future Outlook
Moving forward, the necessity for robust data security measures in multi-cloud environments is clear. Enterprises must prioritise the development and implementation of comprehensive security frameworks.
Continued focus on encryption, despite current low adoption rates, can significantly bolster data protection efforts and mitigate the risks associated with digital transformation.
The rush into digital transformation presents significant risks, particularly regarding data security. Enterprises must adopt more effective encryption and security strategies to safeguard sensitive information.
As businesses advance technologically, ensuring robust data security measures becomes increasingly critical. The journey towards digital transformation should not compromise the protection of vital data.
