Endpoint Backup Essential to Improving Data Resiliency and Closing Data Protection Gap

Businesses are facing a critical gap when it comes to protecting endpoint data, according to a study released by TAG Infosphere, Inc., a cybersecurity research and advisory firm.

The report, conducted in partnership with CrashPlan Group LLC, identified the growing potential for ransomware attacks, frequent misuse of cloud collaboration tools as a substitute for backup, and an over-reliance on manual policies as the break in the chain for current enterprise security configurations.

For the study, TAG surveyed a group of CISOs and security practitioners, and the key findings were clear: the overwhelming majority (93%) of IT and cybersecurity teams aren’t confident in their policies to protect their enterprise data. Furthermore, survey respondents acknowledged the likelihood of a severe data breach through an employee’s endpoint.

“We were surprised to learn that a whopping 71% of those asked responded that they would not be surprised if they had a serious data breach on their PCs and laptops. If the question was extended to include that they might be surprised, the number grew to 86%,” said Dr. Amoroso. “This is important because it implies that serious risk exists in this area. If that many CISOs would not be surprised if something bad happened, then that’s a problem.“

TAG introduces the MEAD framework (Malware, EDR, Analytics, and Data) for modernizing endpoint security. Central to MEAD is the adoption of endpoint backup solutions as a pivotal measure for enhancing cyber resilience. The report advocates for endpoint backup to reduce risks to data on endpoints, detailing how this strategy safeguards data vs. hardware malfunctions, user errors, and cyber threats.

“New cybersecurity technologies are introduced every year, yet data breaches continue to happen,” said Todd Thorsen, chief information security officer, CrashPlan. “The reality is work habits have changed. Most companies now have a hybrid work model-and this has shined a light on just how ineffective manual policies are when it comes to protecting endpoint data. To improve resiliency, you simply can’t lose sight of the foundation. Despite new tools and technology designed to identify, detect and protect vs. bad actors and malicious activity, breaches will still happen. Which is why having strong backup and resilience capabilities are critical for effective response and recovery.“

CrashPlan offers a cloud-native platform designed to address the aggregate risk associated with data stored on endpoints within organizations. It offers a backup and data protection system that safeguards valuable business data from loss, theft, or accidental deletion. Businesses of all sizes, across all different business sectors, use CrashPlan to ensure a more robust data protection and resilience approach.

Download the report: Improving Cyber Resilience: Effectively implementing data backup for enterprise devices