When you take into account how much of your data is floating around in the world, it makes more sense why data loss statistics exist in the first place.

It can be hard to keep track of all your data, especially when every website is collecting it at every turn. 

The global costs incurred from data breaches in 2022 were $4.35 million.

This only scratches the surface of the issue, which is why this article highlights many angles surrounding data loss.

Key Statistics

• 28% of all ransomware attacks cause data loss
• 49% of server outages lead to more than $100,000 in data loss expenses for businesses
• The average victim of a ransomware attack ends up losing 35% of their data
• It was estimated that 33% of all folders in organizations weren’t protected at all
• 96% of workstations aren’t being backed up properly on a regular basis
• Within six months of a data breach, 60% of companies end up closing down
• 82% of data loss incidents stem from human error
• 25% of all PC users suffer from data loss each year
• 50% of all tape backups don’t successfully restore data
• 39% of small businesses don’t have a disaster recovery plan for data loss incidents

Data Loss Statistics: The Hard Truth

We’re living in an era where cyber security is more of a concern than it has ever been.

While there are many tricks, tips, tools, and services to help keep you safe, most people don’t secure their data the way they should.

Due to the many cyber threats worldwide, data is becoming a more prominent issue among organizations and everyday people. 

The primary way to protect yourself from data loss is to be educated about how it happens and what you can do to secure your information.

No matter which way you spin it, this isn’t easy, as cyber threats can be quick, aggressive, and elusive.

1. Beware of Ransomware

A word you’ve likely heard throughout your life; most people understand that ransomware isn’t a good thing.

Unfortunately, these same people more than likely wouldn’t be able to identify the trap before it all took place.

Stats show that around 28% of all ransomware attacks lead to data loss.

While data recovery would be your next thought, a majority of individuals won’t even be aware that their data has been stolen.

By the time they do realize, there isn’t much you can do other than to navigate your personal information with more caution.

Cyber security threats are more rampant than ever, and they’ve come a long way from sending cold emails.

Threats leading to data loss can be prevented and recognized before they become a problem.

(99Firms)

2. Traditional Servers and Data Loss

In today’s world, many tech-savvy people are vocal about the downsides related to physical servers.

While they’re still a necessary evil, many businesses have happily phased them out for a number of reasons.

One good example would be that roughly 49% of all server outages lead to more than $100,000 in data loss expenses.

This isn’t a figure that you can just brush off your shoulder, so it has to be addressed.

Many of the businesses that switch to using cloud technology get a second wind because it saves time and money and can be much more efficient.

Overall, incurring six figures in expenses related to data loss that can be preventable would hurt anybody.

Organizations won’t deal with this for much longer, as cloud technology is not only proving to be more efficient but a highly cost-effective alternative.

(99Firms)

3. Average Loss and Recovery Rates

For ransomware attacks, people tend to lose up to 35% of their data on average.

Having backups always helps, but for those who don’t have that option, it’s time to start looking at recovery options.

Unfortunately, recovery rates don’t look good.

You can get a better idea of what the recovery rate for ransomware looks like in the table below.

Percentage	How Much Data is Recovered
65%	An average amount
29%	No more than half of the data recovered
8%	All data is recovered

Although it’s possible to recover all of your data, there’s a reason why the probability is so low.

Simply put, recovering all of your data after a ransomware attack isn’t easy.

While this can be nerve-wracking for individuals, it can be on a whole other scale for businesses of all sizes.

Everyone likes to talk about their prevention methods, but not all of them actually put them to use.

From the inside out, many businesses don’t have the security measures in place that they need to withstand the unexpected, such as a data breach.

(Comparitech/Sophos)

4. Internal Security in Business

When it comes to the topic of data breaches, most people envision standalone criminals stealing information from a distance.

While some or all of this may be true, it isn’t the only source of a cyber security threat.

It’s no secret that many significant data breaches for organizations start with their own workforce.

You can see how this might happen when roughly 33% of all folders aren’t protected in any way.

This means you can view them freely, and no one would know.

One could argue that they have faith in their workforce, but the truth is that certain information shouldn’t be accessible to everyone.

This is especially true in business, as you never want to have sensitive information out in the open like that.

All it takes is a successful data breach, and they have their set on your most personal details.

(Truelist/Comparitech)

5. Work Stations Aren’t Managed Properly

Staying one step ahead of potential data loss means having numerous backups on hand.

Even though most people agree with the importance of backups, very few actually make use of them on a consistent basis.

When workstations aren’t managed properly, internal data is guaranteed to get a little messy.

Stats show that roughly 96% of all workstations aren’t backed up properly.

The process might feel time-consuming, but backing up company data before it potentially gets stolen is always helpful.

Without having current backups on hand, a data breach could lead to catastrophic downtime.

Trying to get the data recovered and restore internal processes can be a very time-consuming process.

That’s why it’s best to just manage backups on a consistent basis.

It might feel annoying, but we don’t live in an era where our data is secure online anymore.

(Truelist)

The Real Damage of Data Loss

Data loss is something that should be a concern for anyone, even if you haven’t had issues with it in the past.

While individuals are targets, many cyber threats go after companies because they tend to be bigger fish.

This can also lead to a long list of personal information, considering most organizations have customers.

What makes cyber threats such a difficult crime is that they can be anonymous and masked in many different ways, and all it takes is one slip-up to trigger it.

Understanding the true damage of data loss requires exploring the many different ways the problem can arise.

6. Data Breaches are Closing Businesses

In some circumstances, data loss can be so significant that it forces a business to shut down.

It’s important to note that this primarily concerns small businesses, as they usually don’t have as many resources to combat a data breach.

Statistics show that around 60% of small businesses that experience a data breach end up closing their doors within six months.

This is scary, to say the least, and should be seen as a motivator to be a little more thorough with cyber security.

There are a vast number of reasons as to why a business would have to close down after a data breach.

Depending on how much information was stolen or compromised, it can be hard for small businesses to bounce back.

(99Firms)

7. Human Error Can’t Be Escaped

Every so often, human judgment can land us in some trouble.

Human error isn’t so uncommon, but the results of this can be catastrophic with the right circumstances.

In regard to cyber security threats, human error accounts for 82% of breaches.

This might sound surprising, but for some cyber threats, all it takes is a single click to give it access to sensitive information.

This percentage comes from the Data Breach Incident Report done by Verizon in 2022.

It may be a tad specific, but it’s another angle that showcases how detrimental data loss can be.

Individuals who push cyber security threats out into the world understand all of the weak points.

However, there’s still a steep learning curve with the average person to be aware of these threats on a daily basis.

(Comparitech)

8. Computers are a Hot Target

Taking a look at the demographic of PC users, around 25% of them suffer from data loss on a yearly basis.

Of course, the loss itself could range from minimal to more severe, but the stat shows a vulnerability among PC users.

Some people are a bit more thorough with their cyber security compared to others.

What type of data that’s lost isn’t so much the issue; it’s that it’s now in the hands of someone who shouldn’t have it.

Moreover, there’s a high probability it gets sold on the black market as well.

Thankfully, PC users have plenty of options when it comes to securing their personal information.

Even though security tools are more accessible than ever, many people ignore them entirely as they feel they won’t fall victim to a data breach.

At this point, cyber security threats should be expected, but it’ll be a while before the general public truly starts to catch up with the scale of this issue.

(UniTrends)

9. Safety Measures Don’t Always Work

Even for those who go through the due diligence of backing up their files, the technology isn’t always reliable.

Shockingly, around 50% of all tape backups aren’t able to successfully restore data.

These devices are able to initiate a backup, but when you lose your local data, statistics say there’s a good chance you won’t successfully restore some or all of it.

Of course, this isn’t always the case, and some of this depends on the technology you’re using.

This doesn’t matter much to people who rely on such technology to keep their information secure.

Overall, it’s never good to put all of your eggs in one basket when it comes to your data.

Whether it’s for personal or business use, private information should be kept behind multiple security layers.

This may feel tasking to get through when you need access, but at least you can rest assured that it’s safe from prying eyes.

(UniTrends)

10. A Lack of Disaster Recovery Plans

Surprisingly, most people still think that they won’t be a victim of a random cyber security threat.

In reality, the people initiating these threats throughout the world aren’t thinking about the individual; they’re focused on obtaining as much information as possible.

Around 39% of small businesses don’t have any kind of disaster recovery plan for data loss.

When you consider the increasing number of cyber threats happening on a yearly basis, a disaster recovery plan is essential.

If something happens to your data, you have to know how to get it back and protect yourself as quickly as possible.

Cybercriminals work fast, but with the right measures in place, you can work faster to get your life back on track.

Once again, most personal information that’s compromised in a data breach stems from some company you have an affiliation with.

This is why it’s vital to be more mindful about which organizations you share your data with.

(Truelist)

Data Loss Prevention Statistics

Now that the general public understands that you can’t simply eliminate cyber threats, many people are looking for the best ways to protect themselves.

Investments in data loss prevention have been going on for decades, but these efforts are vital in today’s world.

Too much is at stake, and individuals and corporations are too vulnerable.

By integrating and utilizing prevention methods, people can minimize the random occurrence of data loss.

Whether it’s from human error or unexpected cyber security threats, having prevention methods in place can help keep your data where it needs to be.

11. Market Revenue for Data Loss Prevention

With the many tools and services aimed toward data loss prevention, this has created a buzzing market throughout the years.

This is especially true in recent years, as cyber security threats have been an increasing concern.

In the chart below, you can get a look at the past, current, and future state of the data loss prevention market.

There’s no question that the market is looking healthy.

However, the increase in revenue should raise a few questions.

The market is only becoming more successful as there’s a rising demand for prevention methods and data loss security services.

Although it’s a need, the root of the problem needs to be addressed as well.

Nevertheless, data loss prevention will only become more important as time goes on.

Criminals will continue to reinvent their methods and try and work their way around security measures.

It’s an evil cycle, but data supports that people are ready to start taking cybersecurity seriously.

(Statista)

12. Who’s Leading the Way?

Without those taking the initiative on cyber security threats, the world would be in a lot more hurt.

There are many companies throughout the globe that have their eyes set on modern-day and future cyber security threats.

In the brief list below, you can review a list of some of the most prominent changemakes in the data loss prevention market.

Some of these companies include:

• Broadcom (U.S.)
• Microsoft (U.S.)
• Trend Micro (Japan)
• McAfee (U.S.)
• InfoWatch (Russia)

You’ll find many other players out there, but these companies are leading the data loss prevention methods and services we use today.

Getting the general population to fully understand the severity of cyber security will simply take time.

Until then, we’ll continue to see a lot of mishaps in cyber security and data loss prevention.

(MarketsandMarkets)

13. Recovery Plans for Individuals are Sparse

Many corporations tend to be at the forefront when it comes to data security, but this isn’t always the case.

The same goes for many individuals out in the world, as some are pretty concerned with their personal information.

Unfortunately, around 20% of respondents either don’t have a recovery plan or they do have one but have never actually tested it.

This is a key not to point out, as you want to ensure that your recovery plan works when you need it most.

While people assume unique passwords can keep them protected, this is pretty far from the truth.

Most cyber security threats are successful through human error, as you enter information or click on something that hides its malicious intent.

You can spin how you look at this quite a few ways, but the reality is that everyone should be aware of effective data loss prevention methods.

You’ll find a long list of solutions when it comes to combatting cyber security threats.

This also poses a challenge for people who feel overwhelmed by the learning curve around cyber security and data loss prevention.

Taking this into account, the first step is to create and test an effective data loss prevention plan.

(99Firms)

14. Companies Aren’t Much Different

Although many corporations are more focused on cyber security, many of them still don’t test their prevention and recovery plans.

This only leads to avoidable frustration and worry.

Data shows that around 30% of organizations don’t do any kind of recovery testing.

Calling this a gamble would be an understatement.

It isn’t all bad, as there’s actually a slight increase of 12% in companies doing recovery testing compared to four years ago.

Although there are a few positives to this topic, data security just isn’t where it should be.

Unfortunately, cybercriminals are still one step ahead, which is why prevention and awareness are the first line of defense for everyone.

The minimal interest that we’re seeing right now is merely stemming from a lack of true awareness.

People know that cyber threats exist, but very few really understand the scale of this issue.

This article only focuses on a specific angle of the problem when cyber threats are much more damaging than many people understand.

(99Firms)

15. Data Loss Prevention Growth in the Asia-Pacific

This may seem rather specific, but it’s an important note to add.

A lot of the reasons people and organizations don’t invest in cyber security services is that many of them aren’t cost-efficient.

However, many areas in the Asia-Pacific are taking a much forward-thinking approach.

You can find new national cybersecurity policies initiated by places like Singapore, Japan, and China.

Simply put, they’ve made the issue more of a national priority than other places in the world.

There’s more spending on resources towards these projects, making the available services more accessible to those who need them.

Overall, data loss prevention services will be widely accessible down the road.

It’ll be a necessary part of all aspects of society as we continue to delve into a digital world.

The Asia-Pacific region is expected to have the highest CAGR for 2023, which acts as a leading beacon for other countries to follow.

The talk about data loss is a global issue that affects everyone.

We don’t live in a time where emails and passwords can protect us anymore, so it’s time to reshape how we view digital information.

(MarketsandMarkets)

The Bottom Line

You may have never suffered from a cyber security threat yourself, but millions of others have.

It’s best to educate yourself on the matter now so you can be prepared for the future.

It can feel a bit daunting, but you shouldn’t have to fear cyber threats due to a lack of resources.

This article has highlighted many data loss statistics that arm you with an unfiltered view of the situation.

So you can protect yourself better moving forward.

Sources

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