A leading provider of business protection and recovery solutions, reveals that more than three-quarters of senior IT professionals in the UK have experienced data loss due to system failures, human error, or cyberattacks within the past year. Despite this, many remain unsure about their data recovery capabilities, leading to concerns about a widespread “Titanic mindset” among UK businesses.
The survey highlights that while 78% of IT leaders have faced data loss incidents in the past 12 months, only 54% are confident that their systems could recover effectively in the event of a future disaster. Alarmingly, one in four respondents expressed doubts about the reliability of their recovery solutions, particularly those involving tape and cloud backups. Meanwhile, Backup-as-a-Service (BaaS) and Disaster Recovery-as-a-Service (DRaaS) solutions inspire greater confidence, with 63% and 56% of professionals respectively placing their trust in these technologies.
Falling Short of the ‘Gold Standard’ in Testing
The research also points out a critical shortfall in disaster recovery testing practices. Only 5% of IT professionals conduct monthly recovery tests, the frequency Assurestor regards as the ‘Gold Standard’ for true recoverability. On the other hand, 20% admit to testing just once a year or less, while 60% of respondents perform tests every six months, falling short of industry best practices.
Stephen Young, Executive Director at Assurestor, comments on the findings: “Absolute confidence in your data recovery systems is essential. If there’s any uncertainty, you’re leaving your organisation exposed. It is alarming that slightly more than half of the respondents have confidence in their data recovery, as this figure should ideally be much nearer to full assurance. Without proper testing and preparation, how can businesses confidently report their recoverability status to stakeholders?”
Young adds: “Many organisations operate with a ‘Titanic mindset’, believing they’re unsinkable until disaster strikes. The recent global outages, while not cyberattacks, demonstrated that no business is immune to downtime, with losses estimated at up to $1.5 billion. This highlights the need for robust recovery systems.”
The Real Cost of Data Loss
The research sheds light on the devastating impact of data disasters. Financial losses were cited as the biggest concern by 35% of respondents, followed by customer service interruptions (30%) and operational downtime (28%). Perhaps most concerning is that 16% of IT professionals believe that a major data loss incident could result in the closure of their business.
Additionally, the survey reveals several key barriers to effective disaster recovery planning. Nearly 39% of respondents pointed to a lack of in-house expertise, while 29% highlighted insufficient budget, and 28% reported a lack of support from senior leadership. Assurestor warns that without top-down backing and proper investment, businesses are at risk of becoming complacent about disaster recovery.
Recommendations for Business Recovery Success
Assurestor provides a range of strategies for businesses looking to strengthen their disaster recovery practices in the face of increasing cyber threats. These include:
- Frequent Testing: Establish a well-structured recovery environment that allows for regular, non-disruptive testing of data recovery processes. Modern solutions enable testing without affecting the day-to-day operations of the business.
- Introducing a Chief Recovery Officer: Consider appointing a dedicated Chief Recovery Officer, responsible for overseeing disaster recovery efforts and ensuring regular reporting to the board. This position should collaborate closely with IT, security, and risk management departments to guarantee seamless business continuity.
- Reassessing ‘Disasters’: The conventional notion of disasters being limited to fire or flood is outdated. The increasing prevalence of cyberattacks means businesses need to redefine their disaster recovery strategies to focus on digital threats.
- Ongoing Plan Updates: Disaster recovery plans must be regularly reviewed and updated to reflect changing business needs and technological developments. Two-thirds of respondents already update their plans every six months, but this process should be treated as a priority across all business functions.
- Calculating Downtime Costs: Businesses should assess how much downtime they can afford before significant financial losses occur. Without understanding the true cost of downtime, recovery plans may be flawed.
As cyber threats become more advanced, Assurestor urges businesses to take proactive steps to protect their data and ensure their disaster recovery strategies are up to the challenge.
