As the world becomes increasingly digital, data has taken up a pivotal role in shaping business strategies. Due to this, it has become a prime target for the escalating wave of cyber threats. The proliferation of generative AI and the expansion into hybrid, multicloud environments have heightened these risks, leading to significant financial losses due to cyberattacks. Organizations are grappling with the challenges of safeguarding their increasingly intricate cloud assets, underscoring the critical need for resilient data protection strategies.
According to the Global Data Protection Index Cyber Resiliency Multicloud Edition by Dell Technologies, organizations face a formidable challenge in navigating the complex terrain of data protection, directly impacting their digital transformation journey. An overwhelming 90% of organizations have experienced disruptions in the last 12 months, emphasizing the pressing need for robust cybersecurity measures.
The threat of cyberattacks remains a top concern, with 52% of IT decision makers reporting incidents preventing access to data in the past year. Cybercriminals exploit various entry points, with 55% originating externally, often through users clicking on spam or phishing emails, malicious links, compromised user credentials, and hacked mobile devices. The financial repercussions of these cyber threats are substantial, with costs associated with cyber incidents more than doubling in the last 12 months, soaring from $660,000 in 2022 to a staggering $1.41 million in 2023.
Remote and hybrid working models gained prominence in the post-pandemic years. However, organizations find themselves in a precarious position, with 81% believing they face increased exposure to data loss due to the surge in employees working from home. Concerns escalate as a growing number question the sufficiency of their existing data protection measures against evolving malware and ransomware threats. 74% are concerned that their backup data could become infected or corrupted by ransomware attacks.
As the cyber threat landscape expands, organizations are increasingly turning to generative AI as a strategic tool to bolster their cyber defenses. A notable 52% express confidence that integrating generative AI will provide a significant advantage in the ongoing battle against cybercriminals.
However, this optimism is shadowed by the challenges that come with it. 88% of experts emphasize the necessity for robust protection and security measures to effectively manage the substantial volumes of new data arising from the integration of generative AI. Concurrently, the same percentage of experts acknowledges that the adoption of generative AI will enhance the value of specific data types, necessitating heightened levels of data protection services. Moreover, 85% are of the opinion that if data sets used for generative AI are corrupted, then it will impact the generative AI output.
While public cloud solutions remain a favored strategy for deploying and updating applications, they introduce added complexity to data protection. A staggering 96% of organizations encounter challenges in managing data within public, multicloud environments. Navigating the unique features and requirements of multiple public cloud platforms poses a significant hurdle for 44% of organizations, while 40% express concerns over securing data across these diverse environments.
Driven by security apprehensions, numerous organizations are either in the process of relocating or contemplating the shift of a segment of their workloads from public clouds to on-premises solutions. 79% express a lack of confidence in their organization’s ability to adequately protect all its data across various public cloud environments.
Survey respondents highlight two critical capabilities for effective hybrid and multicloud operations – the ability to protect multi-workload environments (58%) and ensuring robust cybersecurity (56%).
Presently, organizations employ a diverse array of backup tools and solutions for safeguarding their workloads; however, there is a recognized need for upgrades. The trend is shifting towards greater dependence on cloud service providers (CSPs) for workload protection across diverse cloud environments. Approximately 26% of organizations utilize backup and recovery tools offered by their CSP, while 34% employ a combination of CSP tools and their own software-defined tools.
As organizations increasingly embrace public cloud solutions, implement hybrid working models, and explore generative AI, the importance of data protection becomes more evident than ever. Adopting measures that enhance the resilience of operations is essential for businesses navigating the complexities of securing and safeguarding their digital assets.
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