Cloud automation is key to future-proofing cybersecurity, according to Delinea, a provider of privileged access management (PAM) solutions.

The report features responses from more than 300 IT decision makers, who participated in a February 2022 survey conducted on Delinea's behalf by global research firm Censuswide.

The report outlines key insights for developing a security strategy that supports future growth and shares tips on how to navigate the complex and ever-changing cybersecurity landscape.

It highlights that cloud automation is seen as the key to future-proofing cybersecurity, especially when coupled with autonomous privileges and access.

Overall, 86% of respondents are exploring ways to automate access controls, especially for privileged access. However, even with 68% of respondents seeing increases in budgets and staff, they continue to face mounting threats from an expanding threat landscape they are challenged to address.

Future-proofing describes any product, service or technological system that is designed to keep working without significant updates.

This ensures that the technology continues to work against future cyber threats, and ultimately eliminates the need to rip and replace systems and infrastructure.

Of those surveyed, 59% indicate that the leading factor driving their need to future proof their access security in 2022 is increasingly complex, multi-cloud IT environments.

The survey also found that future-proofing becomes even more important when organisations are overly confident in their security measures.

Despite the challenges ahead and knowing automation will be critical to their future success, 83% of respondents are confident with their current access controls even as two out of three companies admit to being victims of cyber attacks, the report finds.

Delinea advisory CISO and chief security scientist Joseph Carson says, “This survey report presents a conundrum, as respondents feel confident in their current cybersecurity postures, despite a significant amount of breaches being caused by compromised credentials.

"Yet they also realise that the way to secure the future of their organisations is through cloud automation, which for most presents a dynamic shift in approach, investments, and resources."

Carson continues, "Today's cyber threats are faster, more intelligent and more dangerous. To prevent security blunders and survive in today's unpredictable landscape, organisations must lean heavily on automation and embrace least privilege and zero trust best practices at every turn."

Additional findings in the report include:

• 71% are confident they can recover quickly from a cyber attack
• 69% think their current privileged access approach is either very mature or mature
• 89% monitor and can alert on unauthorised privileged activity

With the release of this report, Delinea is now advising companies on how to implement cloud automation and autonomous privileged access as fundamental components for future-proofing, as well as how to move away from manual and complex workflows that slow down the pace of business.