SINGAPORE, December 7, 2024 – A staggering one in five organisations have been unable to recover critical data following a cyberattack, according to a new report by NetApp, a leader in intelligent data infrastructure. The study, conducted by The Futurum Group and titled “Cloud, Complexity, AI: The Triple Threat Demanding New Cyber Resilience Strategies”, highlights how rising cyber threats, operational complexities, and hybrid cloud vulnerabilities are pushing organisations to reassess their cybersecurity strategies.
The report surveyed over 1,300 cybersecurity leaders globally and found that over half of the respondents (54%) had experienced a cyberattack in the last 12 to 18 months. It identified data classification, artificial intelligence (AI), and consolidated cybersecurity tools as critical to enhancing cyber resilience.
Key Findings
- Cloud Security at Risk: Hybrid multi-cloud environments are now a primary target for cyberattacks, surpassing traditional threats such as ransomware. Misconfigurations and vulnerabilities in these environments pose significant risks to data security and operational continuity.
- Operational Complexity: Seventy per cent of organisations use more than 40 cybersecurity tools, while 84% identify this sprawl as a major inhibitor to resilience. The lack of integration leads to protection gaps and inefficiencies, underscoring the need for streamlined, unified solutions.
- AI Adoption Growing: Forty per cent of organisations are employing AI for threat detection, with many planning to expand its use for automating responses and recovery. While AI offers enhanced threat management capabilities, balancing it with human oversight is essential to mitigate risks like false positives.
- Data Classification Drives Resilience: Organisations with strong data classification frameworks are more effective at recovering from attacks. These frameworks enable real-time anomaly detection and resilient recovery strategies, ensuring business continuity even in severe disruptions.
- Rising Investment: Over 90% of respondents plan to increase their cybersecurity budgets in the next 12 to 18 months, focusing on integrated and proactive solutions.
Proactive Strategies for Resilience
Gagan Gulati, General Manager for Data Services at NetApp, emphasised the need for intelligent data strategies, “The findings clearly highlight the urgency for organisations to rethink their cybersecurity strategies in an era of escalating threats. Secure-by-design infrastructures must be at the core of data management, ensuring fast recovery and long-term success in hybrid cloud environments.”
NetApp’s Intelligent Data Infrastructure framework offers a proactive approach to data security by integrating advanced data classification, AI-driven threat detection, and robust governance practices. These measures help organisations detect threats in real time, maintain compliance with industry standards, and ensure efficient recovery from cyber incidents.
AI as a Game-Changer
Daniel Newman, CEO of The Futurum Group, pointed to the transformative potential of AI in modern cybersecurity, “This survey sheds light on the critical role of visibility and data-centric strategies in navigating the evolving cybersecurity landscape. Leveraging AI alongside integrated tools can significantly enhance resilience and operational trust.”
The report underscores the importance of adopting integrated, AI-powered security solutions and reducing the complexity of existing toolchains to combat sophisticated cyber threats effectively. Organisations that prioritise data classification, visibility, and proactive investments in cyber resilience are better positioned to protect their assets and ensure recovery in an increasingly complex threat landscape.