Object First, the company that offers ransomware-proof local backup storage, is now publishing the results of its new survey on AI cyberattacks in conjunction with World Backup Day.
Object First, the company that offers ransomware-proof local backup storage, is now publishing the results of its new survey in conjunction with World Backup Day. The study examined how senior IT and cybersecurity executives are addressing AI-driven cyber threats.
89 percent of respondents say AI-driven cyberattacks have made them more concerned about the security of their organization’s data. The top defense measure they identified is increasing the security of backups (73 percent). However, implementation of solutions is lagging behind, with only 58 percent using immutable backup storage for all their data. The results show that only 53 percent of respondents are very confident that they can quickly recover systems after an AI-driven ransomware attack.
The rapidly changing cybersecurity threat landscape continues to put pressure on IT and cybersecurity leaders, with 52 percent saying it is harder to keep up with threats today than it was five years ago. There is also an increasing focus on the security of backed up data, with 79 percent citing AI-driven attacks targeting backups as their top concern.
When an attack occurs, your organization’s ability to recover its data quickly, securely, and efficiently can be critical to its survival. If attackers can modify or delete backups, the data is not guaranteed to be recoverable. Backup storage with absolute immutability ensures that no one, not even the most privileged administrator or attacker, can modify or delete your backed up data.
In the Gartner® report ”How to Prepare for Ransomware Attacks”[1] The company recommends that cybersecurity managers implement ransomware-resistant, immutable data copies to ensure rapid recovery capabilities for critical systems.
Other key findings from Object First's World Backup Day survey:
- AI could impact ransomware costs: 62 percent believe AI increases the risk that their company will have to pay ransom to regain access to their data after an attack.
- Zero Trust is not yet the standard: Only 58 percent of respondents have implemented Zero Trust principles, which form the foundation of data protection. Implementing Zero Trust Data Resilience with immutable backup storage, least privilege access, and strict network segmentation means that backups remain secure regardless of the failure of other safeguards.
- Basic backup practices are lacking: Nearly 1 in 3 (31 percent) do not fully adhere to the 3-2-1 backup rule (3 copies on 2 different media, 1 copy off-site) despite it being a widely recognized best practice. This leaves businesses more vulnerable at a time when AI-powered ransomware attacks continue to increase.
- Cybersecurity chiefs are worried about threats from AI, but they are lagging behind when it comes to their own defenses, says David Bennett, CEO of Object First. As AI makes cyberattacks faster, more sophisticated, and more widespread, businesses need backup storage that is completely immutable as a last line of defense against the loss of critical data. If World Backup Day teaches us one thing in 2026, it’s that there’s no substitute for being prepared.
Download Object First's report ”How AI is redefining data protection rules” to find out why backup storage with absolute immutability is the best protection against AI-powered ransomware attacks.
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