Don’t just bounce back, bounce forward: Turning data recovery into a secret weapon

In the aftermath of a cyberattack, one thing often matters more than the cause: the response. That's when leadership is tested, processes are scrutinised, and the speed and integrity of recovery as part of overall data resilience becomes a business-critical differentiator. Yet, too many organisations still treat data recovery as a burdensome business cost, employed reactively, rather than the strategic proactive advantage it should be.

This perspective needs to shift. When organisations have a foundation of data resilience in place – which by extension, enables business resilience – they gain the ability to navigate any disruption with control, speed, and confidence. That provides greater outcomes than attempting to avoid every incident, waiting for the inevitable, and in the worst of cases, assigning a scapegoat.

Blame doesn't build resilience

When a ransomware attack hits, blame and punishment often follow. According to the Veeam 2025 Ransomware Trends and Proactive Strategies Report, 24% of organisations globally fired or reassigned their security leaders after an incident. However, the data shows that a culture of blame correlates with worse outcomes. In organisations that fell victim to a successful attack, only 29% resisted the urge to blame any individual. In contrast, those that fended off attacks did so 73% of the time. The latter are the organisations that are most likely to see cyber resilience as everyone's responsibility.

With that in mind, CISOs and IT leaders are increasingly being judged on how they lead during inevitable disruptions. That starts with preparation. Knowing the chain of command, understanding inventory, and running regular simulations are all signs of a mature response strategy. Much like emergency responders, the most resilient teams are the ones that train within unexpected and high-stress environments, rather than sticking to online training modules.

Clarity and confidence are built through muscle memory. When organisations prepare for disruption, they recover faster and retain stakeholder trust.

Standardisation minimises chaos

One of the most common weaknesses in recovery strategies is inconsistency. Different teams, regions or systems may follow different protocols, creating confusion when a coordinated response is needed most.

Standardising processes across departments and platforms helps reduce this risk. Even modest improvements, such as aligning backup procedures across cloud and on-prem environments or ensuring regular recovery testing, can meaningfully increase resilience. This is especially relevant in large or decentralised organisations, where a fragmented approach can compromise recovery efforts.

External input also plays a key role. Feedback from peers, consultants or ransomware response specialists such as Coveware by Veeam can expose blind spots before a business is subject to an attack.

Complacency is an imminent threat

Some businesses that weathered earlier ransomware waves believe they've seen it all. But today's threats are faster, more targeted, and built to bypass legacy defences. Assumptions based on past success can breed dangerous complacency.

In Australia, for instance, 40% of leaders say they wish they had better employee awareness training after an incident, while 37% regret not having continuous threat detection in place. These are clear signs that preparedness requires careful consideration beyond people, processes, and technology, to consider mindset. A dismissive, complacent mindset can undermine robust training practices, cause systems to remain unused or unmaintained, and derail organisational culture.

Resilience requires continuous improvement. Start small if needed, but don't stand still. The threat landscape won't wait.

AI offers more than threat detection

Artificial intelligence (AI) is already proving its value in security, particularly in detecting anomalies. But its potential goes far beyond alerts. AI can aid organisations in recovery by helping them better understand their data at scale, including what exists, where it lives, and whether it's properly classified. In the chaos of a ransomware attack, for example, intelligence on what is most important and safely recoverable, or what needs the most urgent attention, makes a considerable difference.

This level of visibility also supports everything from compliance and cost optimisation to strategic planning. AI can also uncover inefficiencies and non-compliance risks that traditional tools often miss. As businesses grow more reliant on data and government regulations tighten, this type of clarity becomes critical.

Recovery as a competitive differentiator

Despite widespread investment in backup solutions, fewer than half of businesses test recovery functionality regularly. That's like installing a fire extinguisher and never checking if it works.

Ensuring confidence in recovery needs to be treated with the same urgency and priority as security or compliance. It's not just about getting systems back online, it's about protecting business continuity, customer trust, and brand reputation.

The difference between disruption and disaster often comes down to how well an organisation can recover. Leaders who treat recovery as a strategic asset, not just a technical function, will be better positioned to navigate whatever comes next.

In today's environment, resilience is no longer just good hygiene for a business. It is a competitive edge.