Experts urge enhanced data protection as threats rise
As World Backup Day approaches on 31 March, global technology experts are sounding the alarm on the critical importance of enhancing data protection and connectivity strategies in an increasingly complex cyber threat landscape. This year's focus stems not only from recent increases in ransomware attacks but also from the shifting dynamics of cloud and AI-based workloads requiring robust contingency planning.
Fred Lherault, Field Chief Technology Officer at Pure Storage, highlights the urgency for enterprises to maintain vigilant year-round efforts in safeguarding sensitive data. "Backup should not be an annual afterthought," Lherault asserts. His warning is stark, predicting 2025 could see unprecedented levels of ransomware attacks, following a steady increase in recent years, with 5,414 reported incidents globally in 2024 alone, an 11% rise over the previous year.
Lherault underscores the evolving tactics of cybercriminals, who are increasingly targeting backup systems themselves once they infiltrate an organisation. Their goal is to neutralise these safety nets, making data recovery a daunting and costly process. Therefore, businesses are urged to adopt proactive, rather than reactive, measures to ensure data resiliency, especially in light of new international cyber regulations.
Expanding the dialogue to connectivity, Dr. Thomas King, CTO of global internet exchange operator DE-CIX, stresses the importance of "redundant" connectivity, particularly for cloud-based and AI-driven applications. King describes the dependency on seamless and rapid connections as "the Application Performance Trap," where a singular fast connection is mistakenly believed to suffice for all performance issues. He points out that, in practice, packet loss or network congestion can significantly dampen productivity, particularly with the high dependency on Software as a Service (SaaS) applications which now permeate 85% of business operations.
King suggests turning to carrier-neutral Internet Exchanges (IXs) as a strategic solution, as they allow businesses to establish multiple connectivity pathways, thereby ensuring stability and continuity even when primary connections falter. Research indicates that over 80% of IXs in the United States now offer such neutrality, presenting a valuable opportunity for enterprises to safeguard both their data and connectivity in times of need.
Randolph Barr, Chief Information Security Officer at Cequence, concurs with the sentiment of meticulous preparation. He emphasises the necessity of a comprehensive backup strategy to combat both the heightened skill set of cyber attackers and the increasingly sophisticated AI tools they wield. Barr advocates for regular, automated data backups stored securely in isolated environments to effectively strengthen an organisation's defence against threats such as ransomware and extensive data breaches.
According to Barr, the ability to rapidly restore operations post-breach, human error, or natural disasters can make a significant impact on an organisation's resilience and financial health. Testing these backups frequently is critical to ensure their reliability and integrity, thereby enabling a quick recovery and mitigation of potential vulnerabilities.
As organisations prepare to mark World Backup Day, these insights reveal a broader narrative. The need to diversify and fortify both data protection and connectivity strategies across various business frameworks has never been more pertinent. In a digital age where cyber threats continue to evolve, adopting a multifaceted approach is paramount for longevity and protection.
