A new study by NetApp and The Futurum Group highlights troubling trends in the cybersecurity landscape. Over 54% of surveyed organizations have experienced cyberattacks in the past 12–18 months. In addition, 20% are failing to recover lost data, showing that the need for robust cyber resilience strategies has never been more urgent.
Insights from over 1,300 cybersecurity leaders emphasise the critical need for intelligent data solutions in a world increasingly defined by hybrid cloud environments, operational complexity, and advanced threats.
“To reduce risks and ensure faster recovery, businesses must adopt an intelligent data strategy that prioritizes secure-by-design infrastructures, embedding security at the core of their data management approach,” said Gagan Gulati, General Manager for Data Services at NetApp.
One of the key findings highlights a shifting landscape. Vulnerabilities in hybrid multi-cloud environments are among the most pressing security risks, outpacing traditional threats like ransomware. The study reveals the challenge of managing sprawling tool ecosystems, with 70% of organizations juggling over 40 cybersecurity tools. This proliferation creates inefficiencies, increasing the likelihood of missed vulnerabilities and complicating response efforts.
AI emerges as a vital component in combating these challenges, with 40% of organizations leveraging it for threat detection and planning to expand its use for response automation. While AI provides unprecedented scalability and efficiency in identifying threats, the study warns of pitfalls such as false positives and the necessity of human oversight to guide its implementation effectively.
Integrating AI-powered threat detection, real-time anomaly recognition, and secure data governance enables companies to weather worst-case scenarios while maintaining operational trust.
Over 90% of organizations are ramping up cybersecurity investments in the next 12–18 months. This trend reflects the rising costs of cyberattacks and the need for proactive measures.