JG Heithcock, GM of data backup provider Retrospect: According to IBM, the average cost of a data breach in 2020 was $3.86 million. After a year rife with economic uncertainty, massive shifts of data to the cloud and an increase in remote workers, ransomware, and phishing attacks have grown exponentially. Cybercriminals have leveraged information about COVID-19 testing, research, and vaccine rollout to lure victims with phishing attacks, increasing the attack surface faced by organizations who might be operating with lean teams and limited resources.
As business leaders look to secure their data, an arsenal of standard practices will protect sensitive and important information from ransomware and other cyberattacks. By maintaining proper password hygiene and vigilance around suspicious email addresses, requests and links, employees can reduce the risk of phishing and other data privacy violations. When organizations incorporate the added layer of maintaining an effective backup strategy with a 3-2-1 backup rule, organizations are better equipped to store sensitive information, which can be recovered quickly, easily, and safely to avoid disruption.
Surya Varanasi, CTO of storage solutions provider Nexsan: As we contemplate safe returns to the office, many organizations will explore either full or hybrid remote work options for this year and into the future. With an increased reliance on the cloud and a distributed enterprise, new challenges are brought on by an expanding threatscape spurred by cybercriminals looking to exploit the pandemic for their gain.
In order to fight the mounting threats and protect their data, organizations must combine known best practices with modern technology. Once those are in place, incorporating unbreakable backup solutions will serve as a last line of defense, allowing organizations the ability to recover, maintain uninterrupted operations and avoid paying ransoms should they be attacked. This way, sensitive information is kept safe, and business continuity remains intact.