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Do Executives Underestimate Time and Effort Needed for Cyber Recovery?

The cost of a slow rebuild.
Ryan Uliss
Contributing Writer
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Cyberattacks have become a relentless threat, with recovery from such incidents often taking far longer than organizations anticipate.

On average, businesses expect to rebound within six months, but actual recovery timelines extend over 25% longer, straining resources and exposing vulnerabilities. For companies scaling back cybersecurity investments, the situation worsens significantly, with recovery times nearly doubling initial expectations. These delays not only disrupt day-to-day operations but also lead to financial losses, regulatory penalties, and lasting reputational damage.

A recent study conducted by Fastly highlights the growing challenges organizations face in bridging the gap between expectations and reality when it comes to post-incident recovery. The research, based on responses from 1,800 IT decision-makers worldwide, reveals that many businesses underestimate the complexity of recovery, prioritizing preventative measures over critical recovery strategies.

As cyberattacks become more relentless and cunning, the report shines a spotlight on the urgent need for effective incident response plans—critical lifelines for minimizing long-term damage and fortifying organizational resilience.

Why It Matters: Cyberattacks are no longer an occasional nuisance; they represent a persistent and evolving threat to businesses worldwide. Recovery delays exacerbate financial losses, regulatory penalties, and reputational damage. A clear understanding of the recovery process, backed by actionable strategies, is essential for organizations to safeguard their assets, maintain customer trust, and meet compliance standards. However, Fastly’s report reveals that significant gaps in planning and investment hinder swift recovery. Addressing these disparities is critical as cyber threats grow in volume and sophistication, posing an existential risk to unprepared organizations.

  • Focus on Prevention Over Preparedness: The top post-incident actions include implementing stronger security measures (43%) and increasing employee training (41%), both aimed at prevention. Yet fewer companies prioritize recovery-specific measures like restoring backups (38%) or forensic analysis (25%), which are crucial for mitigating ongoing damage and ensuring compliance.
  • Internal Teams Take the Lead: A majority (61%) rely on in-house IT teams for recovery, with only 39% engaging external cybersecurity firms. The limited use of external expertise and insurance highlights potential vulnerabilities in recovery strategies, particularly as cyber insurance costs rise alongside breach expenses.
  • Economic and Reputational Damage: Cyber incidents result in average revenue losses of 3%, with additional costs tied to operational disruptions and regulatory fines. Beyond financial setbacks, 22% of companies report reputational harm, which undermines customer trust and retention efforts, further compounding long-term impacts.
  • Misaligned Expectations Hinder Planning: Organizations struggle to reconcile their expectations with the resources required for effective recovery. Gaps in risk assessment, stakeholder communication, and recovery tool integration contribute to prolonged downtimes and increased operational stress.

Go Deeper -> Global Security Research Report: Cybersecurity at the Crossroads – Fastly

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