Australian firms to overhaul backup strategies by 2025

The recent "State of Backup and Recovery 2025" report by Kaseya highlights significant challenges Australian businesses face in data protection.

The report shows that more than 50% of organisations in Australia are planning to change their primary backup solutions in 2025, citing dissatisfaction with current costs, usability, and recovery speed. Businesses find it crucial to improve strategies in managing data across cloud, SaaS, and on-premises environments, while addressing security and compliance gaps.

One of the report's key insights is the continuing dominance of cloud environments. Over 50% of workloads are currently operating in public cloud settings, a figure expected to reach 60% within two years. However, 8% of organisations still lack a backup for their cloud data.

Backup challenges have led more than half of the surveyed organisations to invest over 10 hours weekly on backup tasks. Furthermore, 60% of respondents lack confidence in their recovery capabilities, underscoring the need for more effective backup solutions.

The report identifies cost as the primary challenge in data protection, particularly in hybrid IT environments. Security remains a concern, with 25% of organisations lacking adequate policies to protect their data.

Frank DeBenedetto, GTM General Manager for Kaseya's MSP Suite, commented: "In today's cyber landscape, it's hard to be confident about any systems you're using. So much is out of your control, it's not surprising that nearly a third of IT professionals have had nightmares about their backup. From human error to natural disasters to ransomware attacks, the only way to know your systems work is to test them repeatedly."

Findings from the report reveal that only 10% of businesses experienced zero outages over the last year, with many testing their backups under duress. Testing frequencies vary, with only 15% conducting daily tests, and disaster recovery exercises receiving even less attention.

Regarding recovery times, 60% believed they could recover data in under a day; however, a reality check showed only 35% managed to do so. Approximately 40% could recover lost SaaS data within hours, although some required days or weeks, while 8% were unsure of their recovery time.

More than half of the businesses are encountering hefty obstacles in attempting to switch backup solutions, primarily due to financial concerns. Tightening IT budgets mean that balancing cost and robust data protection strategies is a pressing issue.

The report warns of inefficiencies caused by having multiple backup tools, an issue for 10% of businesses. Additionally, more than half of the respondents spent over two hours daily monitoring, managing, and troubleshooting backups.

Businesses are encouraged to adopt advanced technologies, including cloud-native solutions and automated testing tools, to streamline these tasks. Selecting the right vendor can enhance efficiency with integrated solutions and comprehensive support.

Establishing an apex backup infrastructure with a strategic plan for scalability and well-defined backup policies is recommended. Implementing multilayered security measures and regular system audits will also enhance protection against evolving threats.