Object First, a company specializing in ransomware-resistant on-premises backup storage, revealed findings from its recent World Backup Day survey, which highlights the challenges faced by IT and cybersecurity professionals in the face of escalating AI-driven cyber threats. Conducted among 500 respondents in the United States working in IT or security at companies with over 1,000 employees, the survey indicates that a significant 89% of participants are increasingly concerned about the safety of their organization’s data due to AI-powered attacks.
The survey results indicate that while 73% of respondents identified enhancing backup data security as their top defense strategy, implementation remains inadequate. Only 58% reported using immutable backup storage, a critical measure for safeguarding data from unauthorized modifications. Consequently, just 53% expressed confidence in their ability to recover swiftly from a ransomware attack driven by AI.
The evolving cyber threat landscape has intensified pressure on IT leaders, with 52% stating that staying ahead of threats has become more difficult compared to five years ago. This concern is compounded by the fact that 79% of respondents view the risk of AI-powered attacks targeting backup data as their primary worry. The survey underscores that successful data recovery hinges on the integrity of backup systems; if attackers can alter or erase backups, recovery is far from guaranteed. Thus, Absolute Immutability—a feature that prevents any modifications or deletions of backup data—emerges as a vital last line of defense against data loss.
Highlighting the urgency of adopting robust backup solutions, the Gartner® report titled “How to Prepare for Ransomware Attacks” suggests that cybersecurity leaders should prioritize implementing immutable data backups to ensure recovery capabilities are not compromised.
Additional insights from Object First’s survey reveal a worrying trend: 62% of respondents believe that AI increases the likelihood of needing to pay a ransom to regain access to data following an attack. Furthermore, only 58% have adopted Zero Trust principles, which are essential for comprehensive data protection. The Zero Trust approach, combined with immutable backup storage, least-privilege access, and strict network segmentation, is crucial for ensuring that backups remain secure, even if other defenses fail. Alarmingly, nearly one in three respondents (31%) do not fully adhere to the widely accepted 3-2-1 backup rule, which recommends maintaining three copies of data on two different media, with one copy stored offsite. This gap in foundational backup practices leaves organizations more vulnerable amid rising AI-driven ransomware attacks.
David Bennett, CEO of Object First, commented on the findings, stating, “Cyber leaders are worried about AI threats, but they’re falling behind in their own defenses. As AI supercharges cyber threats, enhancing the speed, sophistication, and scale of attacks, organizations need backup storage that’s absolutely immutable as the last line of defense against critical data loss. If World Backup Day teaches us one lesson in 2026, it’s that there’s no substitute for being prepared.”
For those interested in understanding the importance of backup storage with Absolute Immutability as a robust defense against AI-powered ransomware, further information is available in the Object First white paper, “How AI Is Rewriting the Rules of Data Protection.”
Object First, which specializes in on-premises backup storage solutions, asserts that its products provide essential protection against the growing threat of cyberattacks, particularly for users of Veeam software. The company emphasizes the necessity of being proactive in the face of an evolving cybersecurity landscape.
As organizations navigate these challenges, the imperative for implementing resilient data protection strategies has never been more pronounced. The survey results serve as a clarion call for IT and cybersecurity professionals to reassess their defenses and prioritize effective backup solutions in order to safeguard critical data against increasingly sophisticated threats.
See also
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AI Poisoning Attacks Surge 40%: Businesses Face Growing Cybersecurity Risks
