With at least three out of four organisations in APJ suffering a ransomware attack in the past year, cyber resilience must be at the top of the business agenda, according to Veeam general manager and senior vice president for Asia Pacific and Japan, Beni Sia.
“Cybersecurity Awareness Month (October) is a reminder that everyone plays a role in safeguarding data, and that a collaborative network must be solidified before disruptions hit. Cybersecurity is not just the role of the CIO, CISO and security teams — it’s everyone’s responsibility. Teams and individuals of all levels play a critical role in protecting an organisation from cyber threats,” he said.
“Businesses can cultivate a culture of awareness and shared accountability by establishing a trusted network of external backup, protection and incident recovery partners, invest in ongoing education that empowers employees to identify suspicious content and involve all stakeholders in incident response planning and rehearsals.
“Preparation is key. It’s far better to be proactive than reactive. By ensuring teams are aligned and supported by a trusted network of internal and external partners, we can be ready to respond effectively to any threat.”
One of the most pressing challenges businesses face is maintaining continuity after a cyber incident, according to Veeam regional chief technology officer for Asia Pacific and Japan, Anthony Spiteri.
“As seen in recent cyber incidents, the domino effect of one compromise can be widespread, impacting stakeholders such as customers, suppliers and employees. Securing the businesses thereby means securing the greater community around it,” he said.
“In a landscape where disruptions can strike without warning, businesses not only need to dial up preventative measures, such as education, basic cyber hygiene and multifactor authentication, but also plan for recovery from a compromise.
“To mitigate damage and business disruption, businesses must ensure their data backups are valid, secure and recoverable. It is only then that backups can serve as a safety net. Veeam’s 2024 Ransomware Trends Report shows businesses in APJ lost an average of 38% of data following a cyberattack.
“Regular testing, end-to-end encryption and adhering to the 3-2-1 rule – maintaining three copies of your data across two types of media and ensuring one is offsite – are all fundamental strategies to safeguard data recoverability and resilience in the face of unexpected events.”
While the cyber risks of artificial intelligence (AI) have been a concern, Veeam is also witnessing the benefits of AI in enhancing cybersecurity and data protection. Advanced AI integrations can now automatically validate the integrity of backups, scan for vulnerabilities, and use predictive analyses to identify potential risks.
“For example, VeeamONE Veeam Intelligence is designed to analyse data and interact in a natural way with the user to provide targeted insights from live data, drawing attention to the most critical issues. With new advancements in AI technology, backups are no longer just an insurance policy, but a tool to unlock data and make it easier for businesses to stay aware and proactive when it comes to cybersecurity,” Spiteri said.