The burgeoning interest among Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) in the UK to significantly invest in Cloud-Native Application Protection Platform (CNAPP) and other cloud security technologies by 2025 is an emerging trend that deserves attention. This movement, as highlighted by recent research from Westcon-Comstor, underscores the substantial opportunities lying ahead for channel partners, such as resellers and managed security service providers. Given the constant evolution of cyber threats and the increasing reliance on cloud environments, the need for enhanced cloud security solutions has never been more critical. The market’s momentum towards CNAPP adoption is driven by the necessity to simplify and unify security architectures, avoiding complexities and reducing blind spots typically caused by deploying multiple vendors.
Westcon-Comstor’s comprehensive survey involved 500 senior security executives from large enterprises across the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and the UAE, with each entity boasting at least 1,000 employees. The survey’s findings reveal that 84% of UK security leaders plan to invest in CNAPP and similar technologies within the coming year, which slightly exceeds the international average of 83%. This high level of interest indicates a strong commitment towards bolstering cloud security measures in the UK. Among the primary areas of focus for these investments are AI Security Posture Management (AI-SPM), Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM), and Application Security Posture Management (ASPM). Moreover, a notable 45% of the UK respondents expressed a specific interest in Software Composition Analysis, highlighting the increased awareness around application security.
The Role of Channel Partners in Cloud Security
The survey also found a broad consensus among the security leaders on the advantages of partnering with channel providers for procuring and deploying security solutions, reflecting the essential role these partners play in the ecosystem. A striking 95% of these leaders already engage with channel partners and highly value their support, particularly in areas like training and enablement. In fact, 51% of UK respondents emphasized the significance of training to enhance their cloud security capabilities, comparing favorably with the international average of 40%. This high demand for specialized training signifies the intricate nature of cloud security and the importance of meticulously equipping security teams.
Access to cost-effective solutions and guidance in navigating the complex cloud security landscape were other critical factors for partnering with channel providers. About 29% of UK respondents highlighted the cost-effective access to new solutions as a major reason for these partnerships, while 20% underscored the importance of assistance in navigating the cloud security market. These findings underline the economic and strategic benefits that channel partners provide, making them indispensable allies for enterprises aiming to strengthen their cloud security infrastructure. The need to unify and simplify security architectures, driven by CNAPP adoption, is at the forefront of these partnerships, as organizations seek to reduce the operational challenges posed by multiple vendors.
Shift Left Movement and DevSecOps Adoption
Additionally, there is a clear inclination among UK security leaders to adopt a DevSecOps approach, aligning with the ‘shift left’ movement where operational responsibilities are increasingly transitioned to developers and cloud architects. An impressive 81% of UK security leaders favor this integration, aiming to unify security across cloud environments and throughout the application development lifecycle, which surpasses the 75% international average. This integration marks a significant shift in how security is managed within organizations, emphasizing the need for a more holistic approach that integrates security early and continuously across all stages of development and operations.
The adoption of DevSecOps not only fosters a collaborative culture among development, security, and operations teams but also facilitates faster and more secure software delivery. The emphasis on the ‘shift left’ approach indicates a progressive move towards proactive security practices, reducing vulnerabilities and enhancing the overall security posture of organizations. This trend reflects the growing recognition of the importance of embedding security into every phase of the development process, rather than treating it as an afterthought.
Westcon-Comstor’s Strategy and Future Implications
The growing interest among Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) in the UK to make significant investments in Cloud-Native Application Protection Platform (CNAPP) and other cloud security technologies by 2025 is a noteworthy trend. This development, highlighted by recent research from Westcon-Comstor, points to substantial opportunities for channel partners like resellers and managed security service providers. With the constant evolution of cyber threats and increasing reliance on cloud environments, the need for advanced cloud security solutions has never been more crucial. The push towards CNAPP adoption aims to simplify and unify security architectures, reducing the complexities and blind spots often caused by using multiple vendors.
Westcon-Comstor surveyed 500 senior security executives from large enterprises in the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and the UAE, each with at least 1,000 employees. Findings reveal that 84% of UK security leaders plan to invest in CNAPP and similar technologies within the next year, surpassing the international average of 83%. This strong interest shows a clear commitment to enhancing cloud security in the UK. Primary investment focuses include AI Security Posture Management (AI-SPM), Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM), and Application Security Posture Management (ASPM). Additionally, 45% of UK respondents showed interest in Software Composition Analysis, underscoring increased awareness of application security.
