Intelligent CIO Middle East Issue 21 | Page 15

LATEST INTELLIGENCE THE RISE OF THE CLOUD SECURITY PROFESSIONAL – AN EMERGING VOICE WITHIN IT AND THE BUSINESS The Rise of the Cloud Security Professional An Emerging Voice Within IT and the Business T Executive Summary he growing sophistication a strong and symbol prevalence of cloud of its amorphous and ever-expanding the way it seems to hover above us, technology is giving rise to nature, a illustrates new type of down IT to wherever specialist: allowing information to be pulled we happen to be. However, there is a parallel and less the Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP). This is comfortable analogy that IT security professionals know only too well, and that anyone who has ever flown in a an individual with demonstrated plane experience and has also experienced literally. This competence is the sensation of flying headlong into an actual cloud, in which visibility is in information security and cloud zero, computing, parlays that and where you find yourself who hurtling headlong into the unknown at 600 miles an hour. This, in a way, is what cloud security specialists face every day and, so too, that do the background into an advanced vocational designation rest of us, traveling ever forward into seemingly Increasingly, this type of person is needed in the misty nothingness. knowledge required to delivers both the practical and strategic boardroom, and not just in front of a computer screen. The use of cloud technology is central to every aspect the cloud is a never-ending ever- of a company’s existence, and the strategy to deploy it help organisations benefit from Security the inside power of cloud and computing growing challenge. Those in charge must be a special effectively requires a clear and experienced voice. breed: technically competent, eternally curious, ruthlessly while This keeping sensitive data secure. organized, and politically aware. This is a tall order, paper looks at the relationship between IT and the The growing sophistication and prevalence of cloud technology is giving rise to a new type of IT specialist: the Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP). This is an individual with demonstrated experience and competence in information security and cloud computing, who parlays that background into an advanced vocational designation that delivers both the practical and strategic knowledge required to help organizations benefit from the power of cloud computing while keeping sensitive data secure. C-suite, and through case studies and a discussion of the role of risk in corporate management, requires a role for the CCSP as a key player on the strategic forefront of a company’s life. since the tradition of IT has always been something of a mysterious back-office operation. In many companies, for many years, the IT department, and the security organization in particular, was looked upon as something of a hindrance – something that got in the way and which held an obscure position within the corporate hierarchy. Increasingly, this type of person is needed in the boardroom, and not just in front of a computer screen. Cloud Security and the C-Suite The use of the term “cloud” to describe the global collection of interconnected servers and computers as The use of cloud technology is central to every aspect of a company’s existence, and the strategy to deploy it effectively requires a clear and experienced voice. This paper looks at the relationship between IT and the C-suite, and through case studies and a discussion of the role of risk in corporate management, requires a role for the CCSP as a key player on the strategic forefront of a company’s life. Cloud Security and the C-Suite The use of the term ‘cloud’ to describe the global collection of interconnected servers and computers as a strong symbol of its amorphous and ever-expanding nature, illustrates the way it seems to hover above us, allowing information to be pulled down to wherever we happen to be. However, there is a parallel and less comfortable analogy that IT security professionals know only too well, and that anyone who has ever flown in a plane has also experienced literally. This is the sensation of flying headlong into an actual cloud, in which visibility is zero, and where you find yourself hurtling headlong into the unknown at 600 miles an hour. This, in a way, is what cloud security specialists face every day and, so too, do the rest of us, traveling ever forward into seemingly misty nothingness. Security inside the cloud is a never-ending and ever-growing challenge. Those in charge must be a special breed: technically competent, eternally curious, ruthlessly organized, and politically aware. This is a tall order, since the tradition of IT has always been something of a mysterious back- office operation. In many companies, for many years, the IT department, and the security organization in particular, was looked upon as something of a hindrance – something that got in the way and which held an obscure position within the corporate hierarchy. n Download whitepapers free from www.intelligentcio.com/me/whitepapers/ www.intelligentcio.com INTELLIGENTCIO 15