Data is essential, whether it’s for personal use or business operations. However, with the growing reliance on cloud services and backup tools, individuals and companies both still experience data loss more often than expected. Our recent survey1 provides a detailed look into how consumers and IT professionals manage data backup and reveal gaps in trust, recovery times, and migration efforts.
This blog explores key findings from the survey and covers everything, from why people lose data to IT professionals’ hesitation around changing providers. Let’s dig into what’s working, what isn’t, and what needs to change to build stronger, more resilient systems for the future.
Consumer Data Loss Insights
Many consumers assume their digital files are safe in the cloud, but the survey shows this isn’t always the case. 48% of consumers reported losing data, with only 19% having backups in place to restore what they lost. Even worse, 81% had to start over from scratch.
Despite these experiences, 76% of people believe their cloud data will always be accessible, which reveals a disconnect between perception and reality. Younger generations are more proactive, with only 15% of Gen Z avoiding backup services compared to 54% of Baby Boomers. However, there’s still a lot of room to build better awareness about backup solutions and risks.
Trust and Reliability Issues with Backup Solutions
This survey highlighted that trust in backup systems remains low among IT professionals. 35% of respondents paid out of pocket for extra backup protection because they felt their organization’s solution wasn’t enough. This lack of trust stems from bad experiences with data loss, the need for redundancy, or missing features.
Here’s what stood out from the survey responses:
- 42% want extra protection because they’re cautious.
- 25% are looking for features that their company’s backup doesn’t offer.
- 18% use multiple providers to avoid putting all their data in one place.
- 15% had a poor experience with previous backup failure.
IT teams also feel the pinch when it comes to cost. 62% believe their organization spends too much on backup, and 92% want solutions better tailored to their needs. The message is clear: Businesses are looking for affordable, customized options that align with their operations.
The Time Factor: Backup vs. Recovery
Having a backup is one thing, but recovering data fast enough to avoid downtime is another challenge. 61% of companies can back up large amounts of data within 24 hours, but recovery times aren’t always as fast. While 54% recover lost data within a day, about 36% need between one to three days to get everything running again.
When recovery drags on, the consequences pile up:
- 56% face downtime that affects operations.
- 51% see increased stress across IT teams.
- 35% report reduced productivity.
- 34% experience financial losses.
- 30% lost data permanently that they couldn’t restore.
These findings emphasize the importance of closing the gap between backup speed and recovery time, reducing stress on teams, and minimizing operational disruptions.
Cyber Resilience vs. Data Resilience: A Missed Connection
While the media tends to focus on cyber resilience, IT professionals know that data resilience is just as critical. This survey showed that many organizations are working on both of these fronts, but this emphasis isn’t always reflected in public discussions.
54% of IT professionals understand both concepts well, while 16% focus primarily on data resilience and 12% on cyber resilience. What’s clear is that companies can’t afford to prioritize one over the other. From human errors to natural disasters and cyberattacks, businesses need systems that protect their data and help them recover quickly, regardless of the cause.
Migration Concerns Hold IT Teams Back
Even when IT professionals aren’t fully satisfied with their current providers, making the switch to a new system feels risky. 41% of respondents are content with their backup solutions, but many are reluctant to migrate because of:
- 61%: Risk of data loss during migration.
- 55%: Business interruptions caused by the transition.
- 50%: Potential data vulnerabilities along the way.
Migration stress also adds to this hesitation. IT teams worry about ending contracts, the upfront costs of switching providers, and the workload that comes with moving data to a new system. These concerns show the importance of making migrations as seamless and risk-free as possible to encourage more organizations to adopt better solutions.
Solutions for Better Data Resilience
The survey shows that businesses are moving beyond basic storage requirements — they now expect backup solutions to provide more comprehensive support for recovery, operations, and future growth. These solutions also need to address key operational challenges and align with IT teams’ evolving needs without adding unnecessary complexity.
1. Accelerating Recovery to Keep Operations Running Smoothly
Slow recovery creates significant disruptions, which leads to downtime, lost revenue, and reduced productivity. As highlighted in the survey, many organizations face delays when restoring lost data, with 36% of respondents needing between one and three days to fully recover their systems. IT professionals also reported stress and frustration when backup systems failed to quickly restore operations.
Modern backup solutions need to streamline recovery processes too, ensuring that downtime is minimized. Automated recovery workflows and proactive alerts can help IT teams respond swiftly to incidents and restore operations without manual intervention. These tools provide organizations with the reliability they need to maintain service continuity, especially in industries with minimal tolerance for downtime, like healthcare, finance, and retail.
2. Smooth and Risk-free Migration Between Systems
Switching backup providers or migrating to a new system comes with perceived risk, which often discourages companies from making the change, even when they are dissatisfied. Concerns about data loss (61%), business interruptions (55%), and data vulnerabilities (50%) were highlighted in the survey as major blockers.
Effective solutions eliminate these barriers by offering automated, guided migration processes that allow organizations to transition smoothly between providers or systems without disruption. These features simplify data transfers and help IT teams maintain control throughout the process, ensuring that every file and workload remains secure. This capability is essential for businesses who adopt multi-cloud environments or undergo rapid growth where flexibility and agility are key.
3. Strengthening Data Protection with Immutability
As ransomware threats increase, businesses must implement stronger safeguards to ensure data integrity. Immutable backups, which prevent stored data from being altered or deleted, are a critical defense mechanism. However, this survey revealed that only 28% of IT professionals are currently using immutable backup solutions, which leaves many organizations exposed to potential attacks.
With the rise of more sophisticated ransomware threats, immutable backups offer peace of mind by ensuring that critical data cannot be tampered with, even during a security breach. Backup systems with immutable storage options provide businesses with an added layer of security to ensure that recovery is always possible, no matter the threat landscape.
4. Aligning with Business Needs Through Scalable Solutions
The survey findings show that organizations — especially public companies — are prioritizing tools that allow them to allocate resources efficiently and automate routine tasks. Companies also want solutions that are scalable and adapt to their changing needs. Veeam’s latest platform updates, including the 12.2 release, reflect these demands by providing:
- Customizable backup processes that align with each organization’s operational goals.
- Multi-cloud support that ensures seamless backup across different environments.
- Automated administrative features to reduce manual workloads and free up IT resources for critical projects.
These solutions not only help businesses manage current operations, but position them for future growth, ensuring that their backup strategies evolve with their needs.
Conclusion
The survey findings paint a clear picture: Data loss, slow recovery times, and limited trust in existing backup systems remain significant challenges for businesses of all sizes. Organizations need solutions that reduce downtime, streamline recovery, and support seamless migrations, while ensuring data remains protected against emerging threats.
Investing in the right backup strategy is no longer optional — it’s essential for business continuity and long-term success. As IT teams look to simplify operations, lower costs, and prepare for future risks, having reliable, flexible solutions in place will be the difference between disruption and resilience.
Explore the latest backup offerings to ensure your business is ready to meet these challenges head-on and keep your operations running smoothly, no matter what comes your way.
1 Veeam commissioned a Researchscape IT online survey with 115 U.S. adults in the IT field across all industries towards the end of 2024, covering backup options and backup trust. Additionally, a consumer survey of 1,087 U.S. adults was fielded online with 20 questions on backup use and backup knowledge.
The post The State of Data Backup: Trends in Resilience and Trust appeared first on Veeam Software Official Blog.
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