Palo Alto Networks has released its Cloud Native Security Report for 2024. Based on extensive research conducted across ten countries and input from over 2,800 cloud security and DevOps professionals, this comprehensive report identifies artificial intelligence (AI) as a catalyst for accelerated application development in the cloud and a significant security risk. 

The findings highlight the urgent need for organizations to balance AI's innovative potential with robust threat mitigation strategies. The report reveals that India is the second-highest adopter of AI, with 58% of Indian respondents using AI extensively to generate and optimize code.

Anil Valluri, MD & VP India & SAARC at Palo Alto Networks, emphasizes the dual nature of AI in cloud computing. He notes that while India is on the brink of a tech revolution with rapid AI adoption, this also brings emerging threats. Over 40% of security professionals anticipate AI-powered attacks that could evade traditional defences. Valluri stresses the importance of balancing innovation with robust security measures and policy development and adopting comprehensive, consolidated security solutions to harness the full benefits of cloud computing and AI.

AI-Powered Threats

A significant concern highlighted in the report is the potential for AI-powered threats to evade traditional detection techniques. Over 43% of security professionals globally anticipate these threats to pose a growing risk. Additionally, 47% of respondents foresee AI-fueled supply chain attacks compromising vital software components or cloud services, underscoring the necessity for advanced threat detection and mitigation strategies.

Cloud Security Tool Proliferation

The report identifies a challenge in the proliferation of cloud security tools, with respondents using an average of 16 tools from 14 vendors. This fragmentation creates blind spots, making it difficult for organizations to prioritize risks and prevent threats effectively. A staggering 91% of global respondents highlight these blind spots as a significant challenge, emphasizing the need for consolidated security solutions to enhance visibility and control.

Optimizing Legacy Cloud Applications

India stands out in the report for its focus on optimizing legacy cloud applications. 42% of Indian respondents indicated that 30% or more of their cloud Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) is allocated towards this optimization. It reflects the importance of ensuring older systems can seamlessly integrate with cloud technologies to leverage the benefits of cloud computing efficiently. This focus on legacy app optimization is less pronounced in other markets.

Cloud Spending Patterns

The report also examines cloud spending patterns across the world. In India, 41% of organizations invest below $10 million in cloud computing, indicating a higher presence of small to medium-sized enterprises and conservative spending strategies. This trend is similar in Brazil (40%) and Japan (43%). In contrast, mature markets like the United States and the United Kingdom continue to invest significantly in moderate ranges. At the same time, countries like Australia, Mexico, and Singapore exhibit strong spending in higher investment brackets. France and Germany display a mature yet cautious approach, with most investments falling within the €9 million to €46 million range.

Conclusion

The Palo Alto Networks Cloud Native Security Report for 2024 underscores AI's dual nature in cloud security: it is both a powerful tool for innovation and a significant security risk. With India emerging as a leading adopter of AI for code optimization, the nation stands on the brink of a technological revolution. 

However, the report highlights the critical need for robust security measures to counter AI-powered threats and the challenges posed by the proliferation of disparate cloud security tools. As cloud adoption and spending continue to grow, particularly among small to medium-sized organizations in India, the emphasis must be on balancing innovation with comprehensive and consolidated security strategies to fully harness the benefits of cloud computing and AI while safeguarding against emerging threats.

Source: The State of Cloud-Native Security Report 2024

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