52% of Organizations Neglect Critical Governance Controls During Cloud Migration.
As global enterprises race to move core business functions to the cloud, a significant gap has emerged between digital transformation and risk management. A new study reveals that while organizations are rapidly modernizing Finance, HR, and Supply Chain systems, the majority are failing to embed essential Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) controls until it is too late.
The Pathlock 2025 Digital Transformation & Access Risk Report surveys 620 decision-makers from global organizations to analyze how access risk is managed during complex cloud migrations. The findings paint a concerning picture of "governance lag": 52% of companies do not plan GRC controls early in their migration projects, often treating them as an afterthought. This delay has tangible consequences, with nearly 40% of respondents linking recent security or compliance incidents directly to governance gaps created during transformation.
The report highlights specific vulnerabilities, noting that 51% of organizations take more than 24 hours to de-provision terminated users, and 60% lack automated management for elevated access credentials. Furthermore, the study uncovers a hidden threat: 23% of organizations experienced insider-related incidents during their migration periods. Pathlock concludes with strategic recommendations, advising leaders to inventory systems, automate access reviews, and enforce GRC integration from day one to prevent material business risks.
