On the occasion of World Backup Day 2025, industry leaders underscored the significance of India’s Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, enacted in August 2023, as a pivotal framework for ensuring data resilience and enhancing cybersecurity measures. The act symbolizes the government’s determination to fortify the country’s digital infrastructure against mounting cyber threats and losses.
The urgency of data protection has been starkly highlighted by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre, which reported cyber fraud losses amounting to $1.37 billion during the first nine months of 2024. This alarming figure reflects the need for businesses to move beyond traditional data backup solutions and adopt advanced strategies to mitigate risks.
Sandeep Bhambure, Vice President and Managing Director at Veeam Software, emphasized the importance of resilience in data strategies: “This is a clarion call for businesses to explore comprehensive approaches to data security rather than relying solely on conventional mechanisms. World Backup Day serves as a crucial reminder of the importance of safeguarding valuable information in an era increasingly dependent on data.”
The DPDP Act is expected to pave the way for Indian enterprises to align more effectively with global standards of data protection, ensuring business continuity and fostering international collaborations. Around 30 percent of Indians reportedly back up their data daily—a figure surpassing major economies such as the United States at 27 percent and the United Kingdom at 23 percent, according to industry data.
A Western Digital survey revealed that external hard drives remain one of the most preferred backup solutions in India, with 54 percent of respondents relying on them for secure data storage. This ranks India second globally in hard drive usage for backups, trailing France at 59 percent. The findings underline a culture of proactive data management across India’s population.
Parag Khurana from Barracuda Networks emphasized the multifaceted approach required for data backup in today’s digital landscape. “While traditional messages around regular backups and offline copies remain relevant, businesses must also consider more intricate aspects of effective data management and protection. This includes addressing hidden vulnerabilities within their digital ecosystems.”
The rapid adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) across industries has further magnified the importance of meticulous data management. Greg Clark, Director of Product Management at OpenText Cybersecurity, pointed out that organizations are generating and storing unprecedented volumes of data, making proactive measures vital to preserving integrity and security.
Clark also cautioned against unnecessary retention of data, noting that 33 percent of stored information is often redundant, obsolete, or trivial (ROT). “By identifying and eliminating non-critical data while retiring outdated applications, organizations can reduce their exposure to cyber risks and optimize security practices.”
As India’s digital economy grows, World Backup Day serves as a timely reminder for individuals and businesses alike to reevaluate their approaches to data security and resilience. With the DPDP Act providing a structured regulatory framework, Indian enterprises are poised to strengthen their positions as global leaders in data protection and management. At the heart of this transition lies the balance between adopting advanced technologies and maintaining robust ethical practices for handling critical information.
This focus on proactive data strategies highlights India’s aspiration to build a digitally secure ecosystem capable of withstanding evolving threats while contributing to broader advancements in the global digital landscape.
