The Cyber Defense eMagazine November Edition for 2023

Cloud adoption has witnessed a significant surge in recent years, and for good reason. It offers scalable
infrastructure, enhanced collaboration tools, and cost-efficiency, among other benefits. The ability to
streamline operations, scale services on demand, and respond rapidly to market dynamics has made it
an indispensable force in the modern business landscape.
Nevertheless, digital transformation brings its own set of challenges. With more data storage, networking
components, and virtualized resources in the cloud, the potential for threat actors to exploit vulnerabilities
increases. As such, SMEs must carefully weigh the advantages against potential security and privacy
risks.
Establishing trust among customers and stakeholders is vital for organizations aiming to carve out a
strong market presence. However, an excessive focus on cyber security might impede the seamless
support that cloud adoption can offer. Striking the perfect balance between these two priorities is
essential.
Assessing priority factors
Cyber security should serve as a foundational consideration that informs cloud strategy, rather than act
as an afterthought. Just as every organization has unique needs, the extent of security measures required
varies. For instance, a financial services firm handling sensitive customer data will likely need more robust
security than a creative agency. Growth aspirations also play a pivotal role; as a business expands,
so does the blast radius of potential cyber attacks.
Contrary to popular belief, SMEs don't have to exhaust their financial resources. Cyber security can be a
significant but necessary investment, but it's about focusing on smart strategies that provide robust
protection during the transition to the cloud. These investments should not solely revolve around
prevention though, as perpetrators are often one step ahead. Identifying, isolating, and remediating risks
at the earliest opportunity should be the focus, as even well-intentioned employees can make mistakes.
Securing endpoints should be a top priority.
Conducting an in-depth analysis of an SME's existing tech infrastructure – including legacy on-premises
systems and elements already in the cloud – can reveal vulnerabilities that are compromising your firm’s
security posture and uncover redundant systems that may be inflating budgets. This analysis ensures
that systems are truly optimized before proceeding with the cloud transition, as integrating security midmigration
poses greater risks.
While hyperscalers like AWS, Microsoft, and Google offer valuable services, organisations' cyber security
responsibilities do not vanish when migrating to the public cloud. Factors like firewalls, encryption, and
endpoints still require careful consideration.
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