AI has become the core of cloud defense, not just a supplement

Cloud adoption continues to reshape modern business and with it, the complexity of keeping infrastructure secure. Multi-cloud and hybrid environments offer agility and scalability, however, they can also fragment visibility and create new blind spots. Traditional security tools which were designed for more static environments are no longer enough.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is now stepping out of the shadows and into the frontline to fill the gap. What once was considered a supplementary tool is now rapidly becoming a foundational layer in the modern cloud security stack.

One small step for AI, one giant leap for cloud defense

Findings from our recent State of Cloud Security Report, based on insights from more than 650 global security leaders, reveals the extent of this transformation. Nearly 4 in 5 cloud security teams (79%) are now using AI technologies to monitor and manage their environments. This is not just about efficiency, it also reflects the wider industry’s recognition that scaling security operations without intelligent automation has become near impossible.

There are a few drivers behind this shift: both the accelerating expansion of cloud infrastructure alongside a continuous global talent shortage in the industry. The ISC2 Cybersecurity Workforce Study estimates that 4.8 million more cybersecurity professionals are needed worldwide. Due to this shortage of experienced professionals, organizations are turning to AI to extend the reach and accuracy of their existing teams.

Human augmentation, not replacement

One of the most important findings from our research is that AI in cloud security isn’t necessarily about replacing humans - it’s about augmenting them. Nearly half (44%) of those companies leveraging AI cite human augmentation as the primary benefit. In practice, this means enabling security analysts to process more signals and act faster on real threats.

AI’s role in data protection (42%) and threat detection and response (38%) were also highlighted by the respondents - showing how intelligent systems are strengthening the core pillars of cloud defense. Security professionals are increasingly being stretched too thinly. Now, AI has become not just an option to add-on, it's a pivotal way to keep pace with expanding attack surfaces.

The trust barrier

However, adoption is still in its early stages. Only 27% of leaders believe that AI and ML-driven analytics will have the most significant impact on cloud security in the next three years. This

hesitation, whilst somewhat surprising, is understandable. Organizations want and need clear proof that AI-driven security delivers measurable resilience and faster response times, not just theoretical improvements.

Building this trust will require more transparent and explainable approaches to AI in cloud defense. Black-box models will not be enough - security teams need and are demanding visibility into how AI will reach its conclusions, particularly when compliance and regulatory scrutiny are on the line.

AI is the cornerstone of of open cloud security

As cloud ecosystems continue to expand, AI’s role in cloud security will continue to grow. However, its benefits will be fully realized only when paired with open security frameworks that provide and promote adaptability and transparency across providers and platforms.

That is the future. AI-driven defense has and will continue to become an essential, not just a bolt-on, but a cornerstone of open cloud security. It will empower human teams with smarter tools and give organizations the confidence to innovate without compromising resilience. Because in today’s multi-cloud world, you can’t spell cloud security without AI.