Dell Technologies released the results of its annual global data protection index (GDPI) survey, revealing major challenges relating to data protection which the vendor is addressing through its new systems, software, and services.

The additions to Dell's multicloud and edge data protection portfolio, including the PowerProtect data manager system, multicloud cyber recovery availability, and backup target for Apex, focus on major challenges relating to data protection.

According to the survey, which reached 1,000 IT decision makers in 15 countries, natural and modern disasters are rising and result in data loss, downtime, and high recovery costs. Cyberattacks remain the leading disaster cited by 48% of respondents, up from 37% in Dell's 2021 GDPI survey.

The survey also revealed respondents' desire to leverage a lower number of data protection vendors, with 85% recognizing benefits in reducing the amount of vendors needed to adequately protect data. To that point, the survey found organizations that use only one data protection vendor spent 34% less money on recovering from cyber incidents than respondents who use multiple vendors.

“With virtually everything connected to the internet in today’s digital world, the need to protect valuable data is more important than ever,” Dell GM of Infrastructure Solutions Group Jeff Boudreau said. “This digital landscape requires a modern data protection and security strategy to address cyberthreats. Point solutions don’t go deep or wide enough to help protect organizations.”

Dell's GDPI survey also revealed a majority of enterprises are either aware of or are planning to deploy a zero-trust architecture to shift from a reliance on perimeter defense to proactive defense that allows only authorized traffic on the network.

Despite 91% of respondents who say they're on board with zero trust, just 23% are in the process of deploying a zero-trust model and only 12% claim to have a fully deployed zero-trust model, according to the survey.

Dell posits that by embedding security features and design into hardware, firmware, and security control points, its approach to zero-trust architecture bolsters organizations' cyber resiliency and reduces security complexity.