Hidden Risks of Fragmented Data Recovery

By Steve Snook, Head of Cloud at Securecom

Background

I’ve been in the trenches of backup and recovery for two decades, and one thing still amazes me – how casually backups are treated. Backups are like insurance; they can save you when disaster strikes or they’re an afterthought until the disaster has struck.

As organisations adopt multi-cloud and SaaS platforms, data protection becomes increasingly complex. Ensuring visibility across environments — knowing where data resides, whether backups are completing, and if they’re recoverable — is critical for resilience and compliance. Just as important are recovery SLAs, which help ensure Recovery Point Objectives (RPOs) and Recovery Time Objectives (RTOs) align with business requirements.

This is Part-1 of a 5 part series where I’m diving into the real-world challenges IT professionals face with modern data backup and recovery.

Introduction

The shift towards cloud and SaaS applications has revolutionised how New Zealand enterprises operate, but it has also introduced a significant challenge: fragmented data protection landscapes. Many organisations now struggle with multiple backup tools, inconsistent recovery capabilities, and limited visibility across their environments. This fragmentation creates substantial business risks that often remain hidden until a critical recovery situation arises. This article explores the hidden costs and risks of fragmented backup environments and provides guidance on assessing your organisation’s current state.

1. The Evolving Data Landscape in New Zealand Enterprises

New Zealand’s data centre landscape is rapidly evolving, driven by technological advancements and regulatory changes. Cloud computing has become a dominant force, with more businesses moving their data and applications to the cloud. This shift has led to an increase in demand for cloud-based datacentres and created a more integrated and flexible datacentre landscape. However, this integration also brings complexity, particularly in managing data across multiple cloud and SaaS platforms.

2. Common Signs Your Data Protection Strategy May Be at Risk

Multiple Backup Tools: Managing multiple backup tools across on-premises, public cloud, and SaaS environments can lead to inefficiencies and increased risk.
Inconsistent Recovery Capabilities: Different recovery times and capabilities across platforms can compromise business continuity.
Limited Visibility: Lack of real-time visibility into backup status and compliance can hinder decision-making.

3. The Business Impact of Fragmented Backup Systems

Fragmented backup systems can lead to significant business risks, including:

Slow Recovery Times: Inability to meet Recovery Time Objectives (RTOs) can result in prolonged downtime and financial losses.
Security Risks: Increased vulnerability to cyber threats due to inconsistent security measures across platforms.
Compliance Issues: Difficulty in ensuring regulatory compliance across multiple environments.

4. Compliance Challenges in the Multi-Cloud Era

Compliance with data protection regulations, such as New Zealand’s Privacy Act, becomes increasingly complex in multi-cloud environments. The upcoming Privacy Amendment Bill (PA Bill) will introduce new requirements for handling personal data, further emphasising the need for robust compliance strategies. Ensuring compliance across different cloud providers and SaaS platforms is challenging and requires a unified approach to data management.

5. The Rising Costs of Complex Recovery Environments

Operational Costs: Managing multiple backup systems increases operational costs due to the need for specialised skills and resources.
Recovery Costs: Inefficient recovery processes can lead to significant financial losses during downtime.
Opportunity Costs: Inability to focus on strategic initiatives due to the complexity of managing fragmented backup systems.

6. How to Assess Your Current Data Recovery Readiness

To evaluate your organisation’s data recovery readiness:

Conduct an Internal Audit: Identify your critical data and systems, potential gaps and risks in your current data protection environment.
Document RTOs: Clearly define recovery time objectives for critical systems and test whether your current solutions can meet these requirements.
Test Recovery Capabilities: Regularly test backup and recovery processes to ensure they align with business needs.

Next Steps

For organisations seeking assistance with evaluating their data protection landscape, our expert team can provide guidance. Contact Us for more information on how to navigate the complexities of fragmented data recovery environments.

Further reading on the Journey to Resilient Data Protection

Read the full blog series designed to guide IT leaders from risk awareness to ROI.

About the Author:

Steve is an accomplished IT leader with two decades of experience across New Zealand and Australia, specialising in cloud infrastructure, virtualisation, and cybersecurity.

In his current role as Head of Cloud, Steve applies his blend of technical expertise and commercial acumen to help enterprises unify and protect their data. With a proven track record in managing complex networks, redesigning managed services, and leading solutions architecture, he brings unique insights into the challenges and opportunities faced by CIOs, CTOs, and CFOs tackling fragmented backup systems.

Steve can be contacted:

Email: steve.snook@securecom.co.nz

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/steve-snook-1501b646

The Hidden Risks of Fragmented Data Recovery in Multi-Cloud Environments