## Cybersecurity and Data Resilience: A Growing Concern for Organizations
Dave Russell, Senior Vice President and Head of Strategy at Veeam, highlights a pressing issue facing global enterprises: a notable decline in cybersecurity vigilance. With the rapid evolution of technology and applications, the current data resilience standards seem inadequate, leaving many organizations exposed.
### The Gap Between Awareness and Preparedness
While awareness of cyber threats has increased, organizations are waking up to an uncomfortable reality—they are not as prepared as they should be. A recent report by Veeam, in collaboration with McKinsey, underscores the importance of data resilience but reveals alarming deficiencies. Key elements such as “People and Processes,” long considered foundational, are particularly lacking among many businesses.
### How Did We Reach This Point?
The pressing question is how organizations have arrived at this juncture. For many executives, concerns surrounding resilience often take a backseat to immediate operational needs. Historically, resilience has been assumed to be a part of broader cybersecurity measures. Unfortunately, as is often the case, the true value of robust data resilience becomes apparent only when faced with a disaster.
Despite crackdowns on major hacking groups like BlackCat and LockBit, the situation is not improving. A startling 69% of companies reported being targeted by cyberattacks last year, yet 74% of them fell short of established data resilience best practices. The landscape continues to evolve; smaller groups and “lone wolf” attackers are filling the void left by major organizations, employing new methods, including faster data exfiltration techniques.
### Recognizing the Writing on the Wall
The same Veeam report reveals that 74% of the enterprises surveyed lack the maturity necessary for swift recovery following a disruption. Surprisingly, many organizations self-identified these shortcomings. If they are aware, why haven’t they taken action to address these vulnerabilities?
For some companies, newly enforced regulations, particularly the NIS2 and DORA in the EU, have triggered critical assessments of existing resilience protocols, illuminating previously unrecognized weaknesses. The deadlines imposed by these compliance requirements have pushed companies to better scrutinize their data resilience measures.
### Incremental Erosion of Standards
Organizations did not suddenly find themselves lacking; rather, their data resilience standards have eroded gradually. As new technologies and applications emerge, many businesses have adopted artificial intelligence without considering the impact on their data landscapes. This rapid adoption has resulted in expansive data profiles that exceed existing resilience measures.
### Steps Towards Improved Data Resilience
Organizations looking to enhance their data resilience should start by assessing their current data landscape. Identifying what data is stored, why it’s necessary, and where it’s located is crucial. This inventory process allows businesses to eliminate redundant or unnecessary data, allowing them to concentrate on securing vital information.
However, this is just the beginning. Once robust data resilience measures are established, routine stress testing is essential. These tests should simulate real-world scenarios, exposing vulnerabilities that could arise during a cyberattack or system failure. It’s critical to consider situations where key personnel may be unavailable, thereby risking oversight.
### The Importance of Continuous Testing
Organizations that fail to conduct thorough testing may only discover vulnerabilities in the midst of an actual attack. It may seem overly cautious, but preemptive evaluation is essential in an environment where threats are not static.
Implementing robust data resilience strategies is a significant investment, but the returns are worth it. According to the Veeam and McKinsey report, companies with advanced data resilience capabilities experience an annual revenue growth rate that is 10% higher than their less-prepared competitors.
### Navigating Future Threats
While enhancing data resilience won’t guarantee improved financial performance, it can positively impact operational processes across the organization. As cyber threats become increasingly sophisticated and data footprints continue to expand, addressing these vulnerabilities is critical. Organizations must proactively invest in resilience strategies to avoid being overwhelmed by the next cyber incident.
