Cloud security: how Swiss industries can overcome key challenges

From data privacy to compliance, cloud security poses a tough challenge – learn how some players are turning challenges into opportunities.

In brief

• What security threats and compliance concerns make traditional industries hesitant to adopt cloud computing?
• What are the common challenges that plague cloud migrations?
• How can companies adopt a sustainable cloud security model that aligns with business strategy and ensures long-term success?

Switzerland’s traditionally cautious stance to adopting new technologies – cloud computing included – is being tested by the accelerating pace of digital transformation. Specifically, heightened concerns around cloud security threats and compliance with tightening regulations have made some industries, most notably those that are heavily regulated, hesitant to embrace the cloud. However, ever mounting business demands and disruptive technologies such as artificial intelligence are shifting the landscape. For many, cloud adoption is no longer optional – it’s an existential imperative.

Common hurdles – perceived and factual

Despite growing recognition of the cloud’s value, several persistent challenges continue to slow down adoption in Switzerland. So what’s holding companies back from migrating to the cloud and how are forerunners rising to the challenge?

1. Data privacy concerns

Data privacy remain a major concern for Swiss businesses. Such concerns revolve around protecting sensitive information stored and processed in the cloud from unauthorized access and other data breaches. The most recent “Cisco 2024 Data Privacy Benchmark Study” finds that “Privacy has become a critical element and enabler of customer trust, with 94% of organizations saying their customers would not buy from them if they did not protect data properly.”

Strong encryption, effective data segregation as well as robust controls are essential to ensure data is protected in cloud-based operations.

2. Cloud security controls and misconfigurations

Misconfigured  cloud resources routinely pose substantial risks. According to the “AWS Cloud Security Report 2022”, 95% of surveyed companies are apprehensive about their cloud security posture in public cloud environments. Cloud misconfigurations are identified as the primary threat to cloud security by 59% of cybersecurity professionals. Moreover, 31% of companies have faced security incidents in the cloud, predominantly due to misconfigurations (28%).

Swiss companies must focus on implementing cloud security controls that align with the country's specific regulatory requirements. This includes adopting centralized security platforms for greater visibility and configuring strict access controls to prevent unauthorized data access and cloud misconfigurations. These measures are essential for ensuring compliance and robust security in Switzerland’s complex cloud environment.

Successful trailblazers in regulated industries

More and more, we are seeing organizations with significant operations in highly regulated environments successfully navigating cloud adoption by developing robust, tailored migration strategies. These strategies are built around three foundational pillars:

Cloud adoption, when approached from a strategic vantage point, enables organizations to enhance both operational agility and security resilience. For Swiss industries, the path forward lies in transforming cloud concerns into a competitive edge – turning caution into confidence and challenges into catalysts for innovation.