Dell Technologies' freshly minted edition of the Global Data Protection Index (GDPI), Cyber Resiliency Multicloud Edition, underlines the constantly escalating concern over cyber threats that still loom at the pinnacle of causes of organisational disruption. As companies navigate the intricate architecture of data protection, the GDPI unearths new insights into the amplified menace of cyberattacks, the emergence of generative AI, and the continued enlargement into multicloud environments.

The report reveals that in the past 12 months, 57% of respondents from Australia, India, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore reported a cyberattack that obstructed access to data, marking the highest figure in over half a decade. 

Lucas Salter, General Manager, Data Protection Solutions, Dell Technologies, Asia Pacific, Japan and Greater China, remarked, "With massive data growth, unique data mobility needs, and increased experimentations with generative AI, organisations in the Asia Pacific and Japan must juggle multiple fronts to effectively protect their data."

Salter emphasises that "in times where cyberattacks are growing in frequency and complexity, customers require a comprehensive data protection strategy incorporating a range of solutions to boost their cyber resilience."

The survey suggests a widespread concern, as 76% of organisations fear that their present data protection methods are incapable of handling ransomware threats. It also reveals that 66% are not very confident about their capacity to recover dependably following a disastrous cyberattack. Despite this, the majority of companies (54%) invest more in preventing cyberattacks than recovering from them.

Increasing remote working due to the pandemic has escalated exposure to data loss from cyberattacks for 83% of organisations, a rise from the previous 76%. The usefulness and limitations of insurance policies as a financial buffer were also analysed, with 95% of organisations citing their use but noting several conditions that could limit coverage. The report states that, ultimately, 88% of organisations had to pay to access their blocked data.

Companies are becoming increasingly proactive in amplifying their cyber resilience, with trends showing 50% employing professional services to enhance resources, 52% carrying out regular cyber recovery testing, and 42% deploying a cyber vault with physical and logical separation from production data.

The GDPI investigation also includes the impact of generative AI on the cyber threat landscape and prospective data protection requirements, with 46% believing it will favour their cybersecurity stance. However, 89% agree that generative AI is likely to generate vast amounts of new data and enhance the value of certain data types, requiring consideration of future data protection strategies.

As companies steer more towards public cloud solutions, hybrid working models, and generative AI experimentation, the criticality of data protection becomes glaringly apparent. But, ensuring and safeguarding digital assets is becoming a more intricate challenge for many. Amidst a landscape persistently threatened by cyberattacks, businesses must navigate a course and stay true to it.

In September and October 2023, the GDPI surveyed 1,500 IT and IT security decision-makers across a variety of public and private industries globally.