Over the past decade, the amount of data generated has exploded; by 2025 we will generate more than 175 Zettabytes of data each year, up almost two thirds from 2018. Organisations need to manage and protect this data no matter where it resides, but according to the latest industry survey results released today from Veeam, 73% of organisations admit to not being able to meet users' demands for uninterrupted access to data and services, costing the typical company $20 million a year. This highlights the devastating impact downtime can have on lost revenue, productivity, and customer confidence.

However, this year's study shows that organisations are acting to combat this, with nearly three-quarters (72%) looking to embrace Cloud Data Management, often by exploiting hybrid cloud capabilities, to ensure success and drive more value from their data.

The 2019 Veeam Cloud Data Management Report surveyed more than 1,500 senior business and IT leaders from 13 countries and found that respondents are aware of the importance of data management to their business' success, pointing to greater productivity today, and the potential to drive business transformation in the future.

"We are living in a data-driven age, and organisations need to wake up and take action to protect their data. Businesses must manage their data in a way that always delivers availability and leverage its value to drive performance. This is no longer a luxury, but a business necessity. There is a significant opportunity and competitive advantage for those who effectively manage their data. Ask yourself, are you confident that your business data will always be available? If you are unsure, it's time to act, and our study shows that many are not acting fast enough," said Ratmir Timashev, co-founder and Executive Vice President (EVP) of Sales & Marketing at Veeam.

Organisations are looking to embrace the power of technologies such as the cloud, or hybrid cloud, Big Data, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and the Internet of Things (IoT) to drive business success. Almost half of respondents admit that data protection is imperative to leverage these investments.

Alarmingly, only 37% of businesses are very confident in their current backup solutions, with the majority (73%) admitting they cannot meet user demands. This inhibits the adoption of tools and processes that can drive business advantage, but leaders recognise work needs to be done; more than half of those surveyed are looking to deploy Intelligent Data Management and multi-cloud solutions across the business to address this failing.

TOWARD SMARTER BUSINESS
The 2019 Veeam Cloud Data Management Report found that organisations are on a journey to become a more intelligent business, meaning they are leveraging technologies such as Cloud Data Management and AI to create a real-time view of the collective business and the ability to act intelligently on that insight.

Timashev added: "We're seeing a global digital arms race develop today, with some of the world's most advanced economies at risk of being left behind when it comes to their digital adoption. It's essential that organisations get the right digital foundation in place to intelligently manage their data and safeguard their future. To achieve this, businesses must be united internally, with IT and the business working collaboratively and addressing cultural and skills challenges."
More info: go.veeam.com/cloud-data-management-report-2019.