One thing we have all learned from building sandcastles on the beach is that even the sturdiest-looking castles can crumble when cracks start to appear and expand. The same can be said of the current state of cloud adoption.

The unparalleled flexibility and scalability of the cloud has earned the attention of many, as businesses have been embracing cloud technology at a truly impressive rate in the last two years. Nowhere is this trend more evident than in Asia-Pacific (APAC), where public cloud adoption continues to outpace growth globally. According to the recent IDC market forecast, the APAC public cloud services market is projected to reach US$165.2 billion in 2026.

That being said, as more organisations look to the cloud to fortify their operations, cracks in the system are becoming increasingly apparent, which could cause cloud infrastructures to crumble at any moment. Among these, two major challenges that deserve attention are cloud security and escalating costs.

This raises the question: How can we seal the cracks? The answer lies in a comprehensive observability and security strategy.

More cloud, more cracks

While the cloud is a cornerstone of the growth strategy for many organisations, they are also facing the dire challenges of growing cloud costs. Coupled with the fact that a third of that spending is going to waste, this further highlights the complexity of the cloud – from identifying the must-have cloud services and the resources required to manage and protect the infrastructure.

Furthermore, organisations are also facing the ever-widening IT skills gap and cybersecurity talent crunch. The latter holds great significance for APAC as the region continues to face a severe shortage in its cybersecurity workforce. According to a study conducted last year, the gap between the current workforce and the number of cybersecurity professionals required grew by a staggering 26%. This is particularly concerning as the majority of ransomware threats, accounting for 38% in 2022, were concentrated in APAC.

The reality is that as organisations expand their cloud investments, their susceptibility to threats subsequently increases.

In light of these pressing challenges, organisations must therefore prioritise both cost-effectiveness and a robust security framework when formulating their cloud strategies.

The need for an all-seeing eye

Traditional security tools and approaches are often insufficient to meet the demands of cloud-based infrastructure, and many organisations struggle to keep pace with the rapid pace of change in their cloud environment. This can lead to security gaps, compliance issues, and other risks that can undermine the benefits of the cloud.

The trend towards multi-cloud environments has further compounded these challenges, necessitating the implementation of multiple security tools for each environment to gain better visibility and control. However, these tools are costly and resource-intensive, hindering the effective deployment of the cloud.

This is where cloud observability tools can make an impact. By providing real-time insights into the cloud infrastructure, applications, and services, observability tools help organisations optimise their cloud investments by providing full visibility into the services used, the overall infrastructure’s performance, and incoming security threats. Ultimately, this enables organisations to make informed decisions to improve the efficiency, security, and cost-effectiveness of their cloud environment.

To that end, a platform-based approach can prove more effective for larger organisations with complex infrastructures and in more advanced stages of their digital transformation.

A unified cybersecurity platform allows organisations to consolidate visibility, analysis, and controls across security layers and workflows. This is especially valuable considering that a staggering 66% of respondents from Southeast Asia in a 2022 study admitted to having blind spots that hinder security, with cloud environments cited as one of the most opaque.

The good news is that organisations are increasingly recognising the benefits of this approach. The same study revealed that over half of respondents in Southeast Asia are interested in transitioning to a single unified platform model, despite already operating a best-of-breed model. Furthermore, among those who transitioned to a unified platform, 51% cited improved visibility, while 42% and 43% mentioned faster breach identification and response, respectively, as advantages.

Overall, an integrated cybersecurity platform empowers organisations and security teams to discover the ever-changing attack surface, understand and prioritise risks and vulnerabilities, and rapidly detect and respond to threats. As a result, these platforms not only enhance agility but also offer crucial insights into the root causes of cost increases.

Building cloud castles that last 

Cloud adoption is inevitable, and while it introduces a certain degree of risk, there are measures that can minimise potential vulnerabilities. A unified cloud platform acts as a seawall, shielding against unexpected waves by offering visibility into the inner workings of cloud-based systems. This enables the identification of weaknesses and vulnerabilities before they escalate into major issues.

By implementing the appropriate tools and strategies, organisations can confidently navigate the changing landscape of the cloud and continue to leverage its numerous advantages for growth and success. With a robust cloud infrastructure in place, organisations can thrive in the ever-evolving cloud environment.