As enterprises adopt AI, cloud security remains an important consideration. The rapid adoption of AI is reshaping how cloud environments are managed, expanding the attack surface faster than traditional security measures can keep pace.
In the 2026 State of Cloud Security Report, sponsored by Fortinet and produced by Cybersecurity Insiders, a survey of over 1,163 senior cybersecurity professionals highlights the burgeoning cloud complexity and the challenges faced by security teams in maintaining consistent visibility. This growing gap between complexity and resilience is not due to insufficient investment; rather, it's linked to the evolving nature of cyber threats and AI's role in them.
Fortinet's analysis uncovers three factors contributing to this gap:
- Fragmented Defences: As cloud adoption expands, uncoordinated security solutions proliferate, resulting in disjointed tools and limited visibility. A significant 70% of organisations cite these visibility gaps as the primary hindrances to effective cloud security.
- Stretched-thin Teams: A global shortage of cybersecurity expertise leaves many teams understaffed. This results in slow responses and crucial alerts being overlooked, with 74% of organisations reporting an active skills shortage.
- Threats at Machine Speed: Automation and AI enable threat actors to exploit vulnerabilities faster than traditional defences. With systemic gaps in real-time detection, confidence in effective threat management is notably diminished.
Cloud environments inherently introduce complexity, made more challenging by hybrid and multi-cloud deployments. The survey reveals that 88% of organisations now operate across hybrid clouds, significantly increasing their attack surface.
Adapting to dynamic cloud environments necessitates a shift in security strategies. Organisations are moving towards unified security ecosystems, moving away from isolated point solutions to holistic platforms. Such ecosystems aim for streamlined data integration and enhance operational efficiency, offering heightened visibility and proactive threat management.
To address upcoming challenges, businesses must focus on key issues: overcoming complexity, addressing personnel shortages, and mitigating AI-driven threats. As organisations integrate AI into their operations, building a secure cloud foundation is considered vital.
