Veeam has released its Data Trust and Resilience Report 2026, based on insights from more than 900 senior IT, security, and risk leaders worldwide. The report highlights a growing disconnect between how confident organizations feel about their cyber resilience and their actual ability to recover from incidents. As a result, it raises concerns about whether businesses are truly prepared for modern cyber threats.

To begin with, the findings show that while 90% of organizations believe they can recover from a cyberattack, the reality tells a different story. In fact, fewer than one in three ransomware victims were able to fully recover their data. On average, organizations managed to recover only 72% of affected data after a ransomware incident. Therefore, despite high confidence levels, actual recovery outcomes remain significantly limited.

Moreover, the report reveals a mismatch between recovery expectations and business needs. Although 90% of respondents stated they could meet their recovery time objectives (RTOs), only 69% confirmed that these objectives were fully aligned with broader business continuity goals. Consequently, many organizations may recover systems quickly but still fail to meet operational requirements.

In addition, the impact of cyber incidents continues to be severe. Among organizations affected by ransomware, only 28% fully recovered all their data, while 44% recovered less than 75%. Furthermore, 42% reported disruptions to customers or stakeholders, 41% experienced financial or revenue losses, and 38% faced prolonged downtime of critical systems. These figures clearly indicate that cyber incidents have far-reaching business consequences beyond just data loss.

At the same time, regulatory pressure is emerging as a key driver of resilience strategies. Around 33% of respondents identified regulatory changes as a top emerging threat, closely following the 36% who cited cyberattacks. This suggests that compliance requirements are becoming just as influential as threat landscapes in shaping cybersecurity priorities.

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Another critical finding relates to the growing impact of artificial intelligence on data security. The report indicates that 43% of organizations believe AI adoption is advancing faster than their ability to secure it. Additionally, 42% reported limited visibility into AI tools and models used within their organizations, while 40% admitted that their security policies have not yet been updated to address AI-specific risks. Meanwhile, 25% identified shadow IT and unauthorized AI usage as major concerns, further complicating governance and risk management efforts.

To address these challenges, the report outlines four key capabilities that are strongly linked to better recovery outcomes. These include improved visibility into enterprise data and AI-related risks, stricter enforcement of security controls, realistic recovery testing and validation, and stronger executive alignment on ownership and accountability. Together, these elements help organizations move from perceived readiness to actual resilience.

Finally, the report emphasizes the importance of investment in cybersecurity. Approximately 49% of organizations increased their cybersecurity budgets year-over-year. Notably, those that boosted spending were more likely to adopt advanced resilience measures such as immutable storage and automated backups. As a result, these organizations also reported higher success rates in fully recovering from ransomware incidents.

Overall, the findings underscore a critical reality: confidence alone does not equal preparedness. Organizations must bridge the gap between perception and performance by strengthening their resilience strategies, aligning recovery goals with business needs, and investing in technologies that ensure faster and more complete recovery.

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