SAN ANTONIO, Sept. 19, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — New global cybersecurity research by Rackspace Technology (NASDAQ: RXT), a number one end-to-end, multicloud expertise options firm, performed in affiliation with Microsoft, finds that synthetic intelligence (AI) is taking part in an more and more important function in driving organizations’ safety postures and their want for funding in cybersecurity. When requested how AI is influencing their group’s safety posture, 62% of survey respondents stated that AI has elevated their want for cybersecurity, leading to stricter safety measures on information storage and entry (58%), larger consideration to the publicity of delicate information (52%) and stronger classification frameworks and tips (47%).

At the identical time, survey respondents say that AI-enabled applied sciences have turn out to be a important software within the safety arsenal throughout a number of cyber funding areas, together with app safety (85%), cloud-native safety (84%), and information safety (81%). 81% additionally say their organizations have a proper coverage in place on AI governance and safety, although solely 39% say that the extent of consciousness and understanding amongst staff of their coverage is “great,” vs. 43% who characterize it as “fair.”

“As AI has emerged as an increasingly important area of focus for organizations of all sizes, it presents both challenges and opportunities for security teams,” stated Jeff DeVerter, Chief Technology Evangelist, Rackspace Technology. “We are seeing an increased focus on AI data governance and a heightened focus on cloud-native security as organizations’ infrastructures become more distributed and the IT perimeter blurred. But we are also seeing more companies leveraging AI to fight attackers and stay ahead of the curve while prioritizing personnel training to help them better understand and avoid vulnerabilities.”

Cyber budgets rise, with cloud structure assaults a number one concern
62% of survey respondents say they’ve elevated their cyber finances over the previous yr, whereas solely 3% stated they’ve made cuts. Meanwhile, 33% of those that have elevated say they’ve raised their cybersecurity finances by greater than 14%. 48% of surveyed organizations say they dedicate greater than 14% of their whole IT finances to cyber. The largest areas of funding are cloud-native safety (57%), information safety (51%), and utility safety (48%), which noticed a 7% improve over Rackspace’s 2022 survey.

One main issue driving the rise is the rise in concern over cloud structure assaults, which rose 12% in comparison with 2022 and which 62% of respondents establish as their largest risk. It can also be the realm organizations really feel the least ready to deal with themselves, with 49% counting on a associate to ship cloud-native safety.

Continuing expertise crunch results in extra partnering
Securing and retaining cybersecurity expertise stays a serious organizational hurdle, with survey respondents figuring out a scarcity of expert employees as their main cyber problem. In an ultra-competitive hiring surroundings with excessive worker turnover, corporations are extra reliant than ever on exterior companions somewhat than bringing on further inside sources. 43% of respondents cite participating with cybersecurity providers companions for session or assist as a prime three precedence, with an absence of inside experience being the main trigger.

“As cybersecurity has become increasingly complex, with workloads and data deployed across multiple platforms, it has become much more difficult to maintain a ‘go it alone’ mentality,” stated D Ok Sinha, President, Public Cloud for Rackspace Technology. “Fortunately, there is a plethora of great cloud security tools available to organizations and partner networks that can help fill in knowledge gaps.”

Stronger C-suite and board engagement
Engagement of C-suites and boards with the array of cyber threats they face is positively impacting visibility, buy-in, and collaboration. According to the survey, cybersecurity stays the highest concern for the C-suite (63%) – above points equivalent to digital transformation (57%), rates of interest (48%), retaining/hiring staff (43%), and provide chain/logistics administration (38%) – and up from 58% in Rackspace’s 2022 survey. 69% of respondents say the extent of concern for cybersecurity has elevated of their C-suite over the previous 12 months, whereas 71% say the C-suite is making extra of an funding in cybersecurity. 65% additionally say that higher collaboration between the safety group and the C-suite has successfully diminished the cyber abilities hole. Meanwhile, 70% of respondents say cybersecurity is a prime two concern for his or her board of administrators.

Click here for extra details about the worldwide safety analysis, together with the survey whitepaper and infographic.

About Rackspace Technology

Rackspace Technology is a number one end-to-end multicloud expertise providers firm. We can design, construct and function our prospects’ cloud environments throughout all main expertise platforms, no matter expertise stack or deployment mannequin. We associate with our prospects at each stage of their cloud journey, enabling them to modernize functions, construct new merchandise and undertake revolutionary applied sciences.

Survey Methodology

Commissioned by Rackspace Technology and Microsoft, Coleman Parkers Research performed the survey between July 17, – August 20, 2023, based mostly on the responses of 1,420 IT decision-makers throughout manufacturing, digital native/expertise, monetary providers, retail, authorities/public sector, and healthcare sectors within the Americas, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

Media Contact: Natalie Silva, publicrelations@rackspace.com