Infonetics has predicted that cloud-based security service revenue will skyrocket. Recent estimations project the market size to triple by 2017…

As many forms of cloud security platforms and solutions are adopting cloud approaches, ATR research analyst Marie Horton predicts that the foremost priorities for the enterprise cloud will include web security, identity management, and email security.

Furthermore, Horton narrows in on this year, predicting that the sectors that will undergo highest levels of growth this upcoming year include cloud based tokenization, encryption, and firewalls.

Thus, the cloud computing market overall is growing at a breakneck pace and will continue to do so. Many studies foresee that more than 50% of a server workload will be virtualized in the cloud in 2015. Furthermore, they predict the overall size of the market to surpass $125 billion. This massive growth can be attributed to massive growth in hackers and threats to the cloud.

The cloud is privy to many threats and problems. Smart hackers and cyber attackers leverage advanced methods such as infiltrating an enterprise from within, undetected to most. Sophisticated hackers now leverage a company’s own employee’s social media accounts, or computers. Malicious applications installed on employees’ computers are then leveraged to send out massive attacks on the company’s network. Furthermore, sensitive information is continually leaked and manipulated via email exchanges by employing complex viruses that are undetected by anti virus software on employee computers. Hackers primarily focus on enterprises with the largest goldmines of valuable information, such as banks and healthcare organizations. Hackers cleverly plot attacks that leverage the cloud as the main gateway into an organization’s goldmine of sensitive information.

To hackers and cyber attackers, cloud infrastructure appears as a very alluring target. Thus, before sending your information to a cloud services provider, its important to verify the level of security as appropriate or not. Furthermore, certain enterprises may be enforced by regulations to ensure compliance regarding stringent regulations about data security, data privacy, and other compliance policies. When dealing with highly sensitive and confidential information such as social security numbers, credit card numbers and medical information, enterprises must comply with extra regulations. Furthermore, organizations that store such highly confidential and sensitive information should be extra concerned about their cloud security measures. Furthermore, all enterprises should also be alert about securing their sensitive customer data, their strategy and employee vital information via cloud security platforms.

In summary, leveraging cloud services can revolutionize one’s enterprise for ultimate mobility and efficiency. Similarly, Cloud services are powerful enough of a platform that it can also become your enterprise’s Achilles heel if not implemented and used appropriately as well. While cloud services are undoubtedly the technology to be adopted in the future, cloud security must be pursued in tandem. By carefully designing and implementing a cloud security strategy, one should prepare one’s enterprise for a bright future.

Cohen Tomas is a security enthusiast and analyst covering the most significant security topics and trends prevalent worldwide. He also involves in the technology related to Cloud Security, Data Loss Prevention, Box Security etc.