The need for better visibility into data-in-motion has become a top priority for CISOs globally
Global Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) are increasingly focusing on enhancing visibility into data-in-motion to combat escalating cyber threats, as revealed by a new survey from cybersecurity firm Gigamon. The report, titled “CISO Insights: Closing the Cybersecurity Preparedness Gap,” surveyed 234 CISOs across six countries and highlights the growing challenges security teams face in detecting and preventing breaches.
According to the findings, organizations are struggling to keep up with cybercriminal activity, despite information security spending expected to reach USD 215 billion globally by 2024. One of the key issues raised by the report is the persistent problem of “blind spots” in current security tools, which are failing to provide adequate detection of breaches.
Detection Gaps & Blind Spots
In Australia, 39 per cent of security teams admitted they had been unable to detect a data breach with their current tools over the past year. Globally, nearly half of the surveyed CISOs reported similar difficulties, signaling a widespread concern about gaps in security systems.
Gigamon’s Chief Security Officer, Chaim Mazal, commented on the situation, saying, “Modern cybersecurity is about differentiating between acceptable and unacceptable risk. Our research shows where CISOs are drawing that line, highlighting the critical importance of visibility into all data-in-motion to secure complex hybrid cloud infrastructure against today’s emerging threats. It’s clear current approaches aren’t keeping pace, which is why CISOs must reevaluate tool stacks and reprioritise investments.”
The Importance Of Data-in-Motion Visibility
The need for better visibility into data-in-motion has become a top priority for CISOs globally, especially as more organizations migrate to hybrid cloud environments. The survey revealed that 81 per cent of respondents believe that securing cloud infrastructure heavily depends on this visibility. This concern is further amplified by the fact that 93% of malware is said to conceal itself within encrypted and lateral network traffic.
In Australia, 92 per cent of the surveyed security leaders echoed the need for visibility into encrypted traffic, which is essential for detecting hidden threats and improving overall security postures.
Overwhelmed By Too Many Tools
While security teams recognise the need for better breach detection, many CISOs feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of tools they are currently using. According to the survey, 76% of CISOs feel burdened by the volume of detected threats, which has increased with the growing number of assets that need to be monitored. In response, 60 per cent of the CISOs surveyed stated that optimising existing tools and consolidating their security stack is now a key priority.
This trend toward tool optimisation reflects a broader strategy among organisations to get more out of their existing security investments rather than continuously adding new tools to an already complex system.
AI-Fueled Threats & Future Concerns
Looking ahead, many CISOs are also bracing for the rise of AI-driven cyber threats. A striking 83 per cent of those surveyed expect AI-powered ransomware to have a significant impact in the near future. While AI presents a new set of challenges, it is also seen as a potential solution to closing security gaps. In Australia, 51 per cent of security leaders indicated plans to implement AI solutions to improve visibility and mitigate emerging threats.
Achieving “deep observability” within cloud infrastructure is seen as vital for addressing these challenges. Eighty-two percent of CISOs agreed that real-time insights into network traffic, including encrypted and lateral data, are crucial for enhancing security operations. Moreover, 85 per cent valued access to packet-level data, which helps in better identifying and responding to threats.
Boardroom Priority
The demand for enhanced visibility and deep observability has reached the boardroom, with 81 per cent of CISOs reporting that their boards are now prioritizing this issue as part of their overall security strategy. Stephen Elliott, Group Vice President at IDC, emphasized the connection between security and observability, stating, “Today’s CISOs recognize that security and observability are intrinsically connected. The network provides a crucial layer of context that can inform security operations and vice versa.”
As cyber threats continue to evolve, CISOs are focusing on refining their strategies to ensure their organizations remain protected. Enhanced visibility into data-in-motion and optimized tool stacks are emerging as key solutions to close the preparedness gap and stay ahead of emerging risks.
