Cyber Recovery is No Longer Optional: Why Enterprises Must Act Now

Cyberattacks are no longer a question of "if" but "when." With ransomware attacks surging and data breaches becoming more sophisticated, traditional backup strategies are no longer enough. Businesses need a proactive cyber recovery approach to ensure resilience, minimize downtime, and protect critical data from being compromised.

Michael Stempf, Vice President of Product Experience at Commvault, brings over 25 years of expertise in data protection and cyber resilience. In this industry analysis, we explore how Commvault is tackling the challenges of modern data protection, the evolving role of cybersecurity teams, and the future of disaster recovery in an increasingly digital world.

During a conversation, Stempf delves into the evolving challenges of cybersecurity, the role of AI in data protection, and how Commvault is helping enterprises stay ahead of emerging threats.

The Evolution of Data Protection

Traditionally, data protection has operated as the unsung hero of IT, ensuring business continuity during outages, cyberattacks, or natural disasters. However, as Stempf highlights, the field is evolving. "With cybersecurity becoming a major focus, we're engaging with security teams in ways we never did before," he explains. This shift requires a deeper integration of security strategies with disaster recovery practices, particularly as cyberattacks continue to escalate.

Cloud Security Challenges: The Rise of Shadow IT

A major challenge in cloud security is the fragmentation caused by shadow IT, where cloud teams operate independently from traditional IT departments. "They're not necessarily rogue," Stempf clarifies, "but they create their own processes and policies, leading to gaps in cybersecurity and compliance." To address this, Commvault emphasizes the need for standardized security policies across cloud and on-premise environments, ensuring alignment and reducing vulnerabilities.

Real-World Applications: Lessons from Natural and Cyber Disasters

Stempf recounts the devastating EF5 tornado in Joplin, Missouri, which destroyed a hospital and became a case study for improved disaster recovery planning. In the cybersecurity realm, transparency is improving due to regulations like the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) directives and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) 8-K reporting requirements. These mandates are pushing organizations toward more robust cyber recovery strategies.

He predicts that cyber resilience will dominate the data protection landscape. While traditional disaster recovery strategies are well-established, cyber recovery remains an emerging field with no universally accepted standards. Organizations are now implementing tertiary copies of data in isolated environments, such as Commvault’s Air-Gapped Protection and Cleanroom solutions, to safeguard against ransomware and cyber threats.

The IT-Security Collaboration Challenge

Historically, IT and security teams have operated separately, resulting in slow cyberattack recovery times—often averaging 24 days. "Unlike traditional IT recoveries, cyber incidents require coordinated efforts between security and IT teams, and they haven’t built the muscle memory to work efficiently together yet," Stempf notes. Strengthening this collaboration will be crucial to reducing recovery times and minimizing business disruptions.

One of Commvault’s key innovations is its cloud-based Isolated Recovery Environments (IREs). Traditional on-premise IREs are costly and complex, often limiting scalability. "Most organizations struggle to implement an IRE because they are expensive—often costing millions of dollars to build," Stempf explains. "If an attack exceeds the capacity of the IRE, recovery becomes a challenge."

Commvault’s Cleanroom solution eliminates these barriers by enabling dynamic, cloud-based IREs. This approach ensures scalability, reduces infrastructure costs, and allows businesses to recover from cyber incidents without the risks associated with traditional recovery environments.

Commvault integrates responsible AI to enhance recoverability and automate IT management. "We are not focused on large language models (LLMs) or data mining. Instead, we leverage AI to streamline IT management, improve scalability, and support breach management," Stempf states. This AI-driven approach simplifies compliance, optimizes data governance, and improves response times to cyber threats.

The Role of People and Processes in Cyber Resilience

Technology alone cannot ensure cyber resilience—people and processes play an equally vital role. "Cyber resilience starts with people and processes," Stempf emphasizes. Commvault prioritizes security enablement through initiatives like ReadyVerse, which includes microlearning-based cyber resiliency certification courses and interactive tabletop exercises. These initiatives help organizations build the expertise needed to respond effectively to cyber incidents.

Misconceptions About Cloud Data Protection

One of the biggest misconceptions businesses have is treating cyber recovery as just another form of disaster recovery. Stempf warns against this approach: "Disaster recovery focuses on speed—how quickly data can be restored. Cyber recovery, however, is about data integrity—ensuring the restored data is clean and free of malware." Organizations must recognize the differences between these two processes and implement dedicated cyber recovery plans.

With evolving regulations like India’s Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, compliance has become a top priority for businesses. Commvault provides compliance-aligned reports and helps organizations implement the necessary controls to meet global and regional regulatory requirements. This ensures businesses can maintain seamless data protection while adhering to legal obligations.

Conclusion

As cyber threats continue to grow, the importance of a robust, integrated data protection and cybersecurity strategy cannot be overstated. Through innovations in cyber recovery, AI-driven automation, and cloud-based resilience solutions, Commvault is helping businesses prepare for an increasingly complex digital landscape. By bridging the gap between IT and security teams and fostering collaboration, organizations can reduce recovery times and build a more secure future.