Cloud computing has cemented its role as the backbone of modern enterprise operations, powering AI initiatives and core business functions. Yet, a fresh Fortinet report reveals a widening rift between rapid adoption and security readiness, with tool fragmentation and skills shortages leaving many organizations exposed. The TechRadar analysis of the study underscores that 88% of firms now run hybrid or multi-cloud setups, up from 82% a year prior, amplifying risks in dynamic environments.

Fortinet’s 2026 State of Cloud Security Report, drawn from surveys of 1,163 cybersecurity leaders worldwide and sponsored by the company with production by Cybersecurity Insiders, identifies a ‘complexity gap’ driven by AI-fueled cloud velocity outpacing defenses. “The velocity of AI adoption is fundamentally changing how cloud environments are managed and expanding the attack surface at a speed that outpaces traditional security models,” notes the Fortinet blog post by Vice President of Cloud Security Vincent Hwang.

Nearly 70% of respondents pinpoint tool sprawl and visibility gaps as primary barriers to robust cloud protection, forcing manual alert correlation across incompatible systems. This fragmentation persists despite rising investments, as defenses fail to match the pace of threats exploiting misconfigurations and permissions at machine speed.

Attack Surface Explosion

Hybrid and multi-cloud dominance—81% of organizations use two or more providers for critical workloads, with 29% employing over three—has ballooned attack surfaces. Top vulnerabilities include identity and access management flaws at 77%, misconfigurations at 70%, and data exposure at 66%, per TechRadar‘s breakdown of the report.

Confidence in real-time threat detection and response has eroded, with 66% lacking strong assurance, a 16-point drop from prior years according to Security Brief. Automation lags too: only 11% achieve autonomous remediation, while most tools merely alert without action.

Maturity remains nascent, as 59% of teams self-assess at early stages, hampered by a 74% shortage of skilled personnel. These gaps compound in AI-driven operations, where rapid provisioning creates ephemeral resources tough to monitor.

Budget Surge Meets Maturity Lag

Organizations are pouring resources into fixes: 62% anticipate cloud security budget hikes, with 34% of total IT security spend already directed there, the Fortinet blog reports. Yet, effectiveness stalls amid disconnected tools, echoing findings from the prior year’s study where 63% planned increases amid persistent compliance hurdles.

Security and compliance top adoption barriers for 61%, with 76% citing expertise voids, as detailed in Fortinet’s earlier blog on 2025 trends. Rapid uptake of tools like Cloud Security Posture Management (67%) and Cloud-Native Application Protection Platforms (62%) signals a push toward posture hardening.

Despite gains, hypergrowth in services and data flows demands holistic approaches. Enterprises blending on-premises with public clouds—54% in hybrid models per prior data—face amplified risks from inconsistent policies across providers.

Unified Platforms Gain Traction

A pivotal shift emerges: 64% would opt for single-vendor platforms integrating network, cloud, and app security if rebuilding strategies, slashing integration woes and boosting visibility. Two-thirds echo this preference for consolidation over sprawl.

Fortinet outlines five principles: unified visibility across accounts and workloads; tool rationalization; linking risk domains; automating low-risk resolutions; and extending coverage to networks, SaaS, and endpoints. These align with calls for centralized policy enforcement amid AI threats.

“Organizations navigating the challenges of cloud adoption recognize the importance of safeguarding their cloud-based initiatives,” states Vivek Srivastava, Fortinet’s Country Manager for India & SAARC, in coverage by Voice & Data.

AI Acceleration Amplifies Urgency

AI’s role intensifies the stakes, reshaping management and inviting automated attacks that scan for weaknesses faster than humans respond. The report warns that without resilient foundations, AI pursuits risk foundational breaches, per Hwang’s analysis.

Skills shortages exacerbate issues, with 76% impacted in cloud-specific roles. Training and upskilling emerge as imperatives, alongside AI-assisted defenses for threat hunting. Recent X discussions highlight Fortinet’s report as a wake-up call for consolidated defenses.

Hybrid models, now at 88%, demand end-to-end encryption and runtime protections. As revenues from cloud infrastructure near $400 billion per Statista projections cited in Fortinet materials, stakes for secure operations have never been higher.

Path Forward for Resilience

Leaders prioritize platforms like CNAPP for workload and configuration safeguards. Budget reallocations—35% of security spend on cloud—signal commitment, but success hinges on execution.

Fortinet urges proactive exposure management and automation to close the gap. With threats evolving at machine speed, the report positions unified ecosystems as the antidote to fragmentation, enabling real-time resilience across sprawling infrastructures.

Enterprises must act decisively, blending investment with strategic consolidation to harness cloud’s promise without compromising security. The complexity chasm looms, but targeted strategies offer a bridge to fortified operations.