Apricorn has announced findings from its annual survey conducted among IT security decision makers into the state of data backup and the ability of organizations to recover in the event of a cyber attack.
Half of IT decision makers surveyed had to turn to backups to recover data, highlighting the urgency of implementing more effective data backup strategies to ensure rapid recovery. Of those who needed to recover their data, 50% were able to do so successfully but 25% were only able to partially recover their data and documents. A further 8% were unsuccessful because they did not have robust backup processes in place, demonstrating the need for continued enhancement in storage and backup solutions to ensure complete recovery post-breach.
Positively, there is an upward trend in the adoption of comprehensive backup strategies. The survey found a significant increase in automated backups to both central and personal repositories, indicating that the message about the importance of multiple backup locations and the benefits of automated backups is resonating. The use of automated backup to both central and personal repositories has surged to 30%, up from 19% in 2023 according to IT decision makers surveyed. Individually, automated backup to central repositories has risen to 27%, up from 14% in 2023, and automated backup to personal repositories is now at 16%.
While it is encouraging to see more organizations automating backup and adopting multiple backup locations, the fact that a percentage of organizations still struggle with complete data recovery is a stark reminder of the work that remains. Robust backup systems are not just advisable; they are a necessity in today’s threat landscape.
Jon Fielding, Managing Director, Apricorn.
The survey also shows the increasing prioritisation of backup policies as a critical component of cybersecurity strategies. A striking 46% of respondents now consider robust backup policies as the most important factor for meeting cyber insurance compliance, a substantial increase from 28% in 2023. This shift reflects a growing awareness of the high stakes involved and the role of comprehensive backup solutions in mitigating risks and securing insurance coverage.
Demographics
The research for Apricorn was conducted by Censuswide with 604 IT security decision makers across the UK and US.
