Data Backup (Russian Market)

2025: Backup illusions: How companies in Russia lose data thinking they are protected - TA opinions

In June 2025, TAdviser spoke with experts and market participants about the challenges of data backup. Russian companies sometimes make mistakes when using such systems and face data loss, despite the presence of a backup. TAdviser interlocutors confirm the existence of such a problem and say that in most cases, companies that face data loss are trying to make amends for the consequences of such incidents and avoid their publicity.

Askar Musaev, a business continuity expert at Jet Infosystems, told TAdviser that sometimes copies are damaged or it turns out that the necessary data for some reason did not fall into the backup plan. According to him, the copies themselves should be regularly checked for integrity, the recovery process and sequence of actions should be clear to the specialists involved, and the speed of recovery from backups should be clear to the business.

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Фото: Freepik

Dmitry Vizgalov, an expert in the field of enterprise information security and information protection, listed several reasons that lead to data loss when using backup systems:

• No up-to-date backups of critical data
• lack of geographically distributed copies (for example, in the event of a fire in the server room);
• Failure to regularly check the health of backups
• the impossibility of prompt data recovery due to the lack of a clear action plan (who should do what, whether there are necessary powers).

According to Ruslan Zadinov, Director of the Clouds and Data Department of Reksoft, the root of the problem lies not in the systems, but in the fact that business does not always correctly understand the place of backup systems by a common set of measures that ensure business continuity and data safety in particular. The right approach, verified by years and many sad cases, is to build on the continuity of the company's business processes as a whole, he said.

Andrei Dubinin, Head of Infrastructure and Virtualization at Angara Security, agrees that problems arise due to errors in setting tasks when implementing backup systems. Often, the company does not have an up-to-date register of IT systems. This affects what data eventually enters the RBM repository. The question is especially relevant for companies in which information systems have been developing for a long time, changing to new ones, Dubinin explained. He also considers it necessary to maintain backup and storage systems. If you do not track the problem with disks in time, then a situation may arise when software or hardware Raid (Redundant Array of Independent Disks, fault-tolerant hard disk configuration technology) completely fails, data is irrevocably lost and it is no longer possible to restore anything, added the interlocutor TAdviser.

Oleg Fedorov, Head of Cloud Products and Solutions at Linx Cloud, confirms that Russian companies really face data loss even with backups. The main reason, according to the TAdviser interlocutor, is the need to develop and automate recovery scenarios in addition to creating backups.

Their verification is no less important, and carried out more than once a month, and always after creating a new copy. This is due to the fact that during the checks it is possible to identify non-consensual copies and, taking this into account, back up again, which will make it possible to be sure of the safety of the data, "Fedorov emphasized.

Mikhail Kostsov, Head of Computing Infrastructure and Backup Systems Practice at K2Tekh, pointed to another weak point in backup systems implementation projects - the lack of clear instructions for processes. Processes can be tied to one person responsible for backups, with the departure of which it is difficult for the team to build a procedure at a critical moment. Ideally, it is necessary to prescribe clear and understandable instructions for restoring each component of the system so that you do not need to understand how backups work and what to do in the event of an accident, Kostsov advises.

Another problem is the wrong choice of backup technology. For example, some companies do not use specialized tools for backup, but take snapshots of data that are not intended for long-term storage, said Alexey Darwin, head of backup at Postgres Professional. Snapshot does not guarantee data consistency - at the time of its creation, not all data could be written to disk. In addition, such pictures are often stored on the same disk as the main information, which increases the risk of complete data loss in the event of a failure, the Postgres representative emphasized.

Kirill Vikhrovsky, CEO of RuBackup (part of Astra Group), attributed the lack of support from foreign vendors for backup systems and related software to a serious problem. When updating the main software, the backup system may stop working correctly, and without timely updates and patches, data recovery becomes impossible, he said.

Speakers also pay attention to the reason for the loss of data in the presence of backups, such as. cyber attacks The problem is that the backup loop is not protected and attackers, with a successful cyber attack, manage to get to it and destroy all operational backups. An attacker, having gained control over the system, can affect the tools and data that are intended for recovery, said architect information security Selectel Alexei Kostyanov.

The presence of a ransomware virus is one of the most critical moments, says Mikhail Nikulin, head of Solar DAG product at Solar Group. The ransomware virus penetrates the customer's infrastructure, destroys data and their copies, which are contained in the archives. This leads to the loss of copied information, he said.

Dmitry Sorokin, technical director of the Basis infrastructure software developer, said that when the backup system is integrated into the main network without properly isolating the ransomware attack, attackers can destroy not only work data, but also their backups. Sorokin recommends taking backups to standalone tape drives or to a protected cloud with limited access, which can prevent data loss.

Kirill Vikhrovsky from RuBackup recommends that business create a unified system for ensuring data sustainability and business continuity, which will allow you to manage centrally all processes, automate recovery testing, ensure data security, comply with storage procedures and monitor the status of backups in real time.

When implementing backup projects, the Director of Information Security of Develoniki (Softline Group of Companies) Maxim Chashchin recommends adhering to the "3-2-1" rule.

It sounds completely like this: store 3 copies of data on two different media, 1 of which are offline. This will not fully protect the company, much really depends on the IT infrastructure and software architecture, but it will definitely lead to a systematic approach and reduce risks, "said Chashchin.

2024: Growth of the Russian data backup market by 17% to 9 billion rubles

At the end of 2024, the volume of the Russian information backup market reached 8.99 billion rubles. This is 17% more compared to the previous year, when the costs were estimated at 7.7 billion rubles. Such indicators are reflected in a study by Strategy Partners, the results of which were published on June 2, 2025.

Despite the observed reduction in customer IT budgets, the backup sector continues to grow at a high rate due to the critical importance to business security. Analysts note that in 2024, expenses in the market under consideration exceeded the level of 2021, when the result of 7.89 billion rubles was shown.

Against the background of active import substitution due to the formed geopolitical situation, the share of domestic suppliers is steadily growing. In 2024, Russian companies accounted for 69% of revenue, or 6.06 billion rubles. The remaining 31%, or 2.93 billion rubles, was provided by foreign vendors. For comparison, in 2023 the share of domestic suppliers was estimated at 53%, and in 2021 - only at 19%. At the same time, the market retains a large accumulated volume of foreign solutions that require replacement, which in the future will help Russian companies in increasing sales. In particular, in 2025, licenses for a significant number of previously purchased foreign products expire, which will additionally stimulate demand for Russian solutions.

The key players in the data backup market in Russia are Cyberprotect (Cyber ​ ​ Backup), Astra Group (RuBackup), Novosoft (Handy Backup), as well as international Veeam and Commvault. At the same time, the three largest suppliers - Cyberprotect, Astra Group and Veeam - together occupy 65% of the industry. In 2023, the share of these companies was lower - approximately 55%. Analysts believe that the possible return of foreign suppliers to the Russian market will not have a significant impact on the pace of import substitution in the backup segment.

Due to the growing level of competition between Russian solutions, as well as the growth of the technical level, functional capabilities and the level of compatibility of solutions of market leaders (Cyber ​ ​ Backup and RuBackup), there is a replacement of Russian solutions delivered in 2022-2023. Russian solutions for Russian products of market leaders, - said in the study.

Strategy Partners analysts note that the Russian data backup market is very attractive for development in terms of its capacity. High growth rates are associated with the criticality of corporate security solutions and business continuity. At the same time, a strong local leader stands out - Cyberprotect. In general, the sector is one of the highest priorities in terms of import substitution.

The study also says that the key driver of the Russian IT industry is precisely the rate of import substitution. State-owned companies are actively replacing foreign products with Russian ones. The commercial sector pays attention primarily to critical information infrastructure (CII) facilities, but substitution is less active here than in the state segment. Among the positive factors are the growth in the maturity of Russian products, the acceleration of the process of developing new solutions, the trend towards ecosystem and compatibility of domestic products with each other. There is an active use of cloud technologies: multi-cloud and hybrid infrastructures are rapidly gaining popularity.^[1]

2023: The volume of the Russian backup tools market grew by 30% to 7,697 million rubles

The backup tools grew 30% to 7,697 million rubles and approached 2021 levels. TAdviser the Russian consulting The company has shared such results since May 27, 2024. Strategy Partners

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Фото: Strategy Partners

According to analysts, the market is demonstrating high readiness to switch to Russian proprietary backup products due to the critical importance of this software for maintaining the health of the IT infrastructure.

As noted in the Strategy Partners report, the market is very attractive for development in terms of its capacity. The high growth rate of the market is associated with the criticality of the solution for corporate security and business continuity. The niche is a priority for rapid import substitution and is resistant to the implementation of macroeconomic risks.

The full version of the Strategy Partners report on the results of a study on the Russian infrastructure software market and its development prospects can be found at the link.

2022: The volume of the Russian backup solutions market decreased to 5.9 billion rubles

The volume of the Russian backup solutions market in 2022 decreased to 5.9 billion rubles, and the share of foreign players decreased significantly. Such data is provided in the Strategy Partners review, published in September 2023.

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Фото: Strategy Partners

Attempts to enter the Russian market are made by companies from "friendly" countries, including China. Them technologically mature products can occupy a niche in the B2B segment, however, for companies sensitive to sanctions risks and subject to state regulation, these solutions are not suitable. At the same time, the market demonstrates high stability of demand under the conditions of sanctions.

Among the key parameters of the Russian backup solutions market according to Strategy Partners:

• The market is very attractive for development in terms of its capacity;
• A fairly strong local competitor (Cyberprotect) is present and developing on the market;
• The high growth rate of the market is associated with the criticality of the solution for corporate security and business continuity;
• The niche is a priority for rapid import substitution and is resistant to the implementation of macroeconomic risks.

A full review of Strategy Partners is available at.

2021: Veeam Software: 27% of Russian organizations use the cloud backup service

Veeam Software, an expert in cloud backup and data management solutions, shared the results of the Veeam Data Protection Report 2021 study on March 19, 2021, which was prepared in conjunction with independent research company Vanson Bourne. The study found that 58% of backups could not be recovered, leaving data unprotected.

Data protection in 2021:

Three-quarters (75%) of Russian organizations face a "gap" in accessibility - the difference between how quickly they can restore applications and how quickly they should do so. This means that companies do not have time to recover data on time.

7 out of 10 (70%) Russian companies face a "gap" in data protection, that is, they cannot provide frequent backups to guarantee the minimum allowable data loss.

The main problems data protection in 2021 for 40% of respondents were: insufficient backup and inability to fulfill the requirements of agreements on a guaranteed service level (). SLA

As other challenges to digital transformation for the coming year, Russian companies noted: economic instability (39%), sharp changes in the industry (31%), lack of necessary qualifications for the introduction of technologies (31%) and geopolitical instability (31%).

The desire to improve backup reliability by increasing the number of successful operations has become the main reason for Russian companies to replace the current backup solution (two out of five (39%) respondents reported this).

Almost a third (31%) of respondents said that the most important drivers of change for them are the reduction in software and hardware costs, as well as the transition from a data protection solution installed on the local site to a cloud data protection service. Other incentives for change were: for 34% of respondents, increased return on investment (ROI )/reduced total cost of ownership (TCO), for 22% of respondents, improved compliance with SLA requirements for RPO/RTO indicators.

Digital Transformation and IT Modernization in 2021:

The COVID-19 pandemic has had an extraordinary impact on the digital transformation of Russian companies, more than half of them (51%) have accelerated their steps in this direction. This figure is slightly lower than the global average (54%).

More than a quarter (27%) of Russian organizations noted that COVID-19 had a slowing effect on their digital transformation. As a result, there was a "digital gap" between those companies that had a clear transformation plan (which was accelerated by the pandemic) and those that were less prepared (and, as a result, had to slow down).

85% of Russian companies noted that their digital transformation initiatives faced obstacles, including: dependence on outdated IT systems (54%), the need to maintain operations during a pandemic (52%) and insufficient IT personnel (48%).

Consequences of downtime and data loss in 2021:

Almost half (49%) of Russian companies called the loss of customer confidence one of the main possible consequences of downtime and data loss. The same number (49%) fear damage to the brand's reputation, while almost a third (29%) believe that such scenarios can lead to a loss of trust among employees.

According to the survey, 14% of all data from Russian companies do not have backups. This indicator corresponds to the world.

28% of backup jobs in Russia failed or failed in the backup time window. This means that out of almost a third of the backups created, the data probably cannot be recovered in principle. In addition, the study found that nearly a third (28%) of data recovery attempts failed in the time prescribed by the SLA. This means that only a little more than half of the data can be successfully recovered, whereas in 48% of the cases, data recovery is not possible, which leads to problems in data protection.

The vast majority (96%) of Russian companies suffer from unexpected failures and downtime. 21% of servers have experienced forced downtime at least once in the last year, and 27% of organizations have experienced downtime on more than half of their servers in the last year.

On average, downtime in Russian organizations lasts 76 minutes, which is slightly less than the world figure (79 minutes).

The largest period of downtime recorded in Russian companies over the past year amounted to 231 minutes. This is higher than the global average (202 minutes).

Among the most common reasons for downtime in Russian organizations are server failures (68%) and software failures (61%).

Cloud Data Management 2021:

More than a quarter (27%) of Russian organizations use a cloud backup service (Backupas a Service, BaaS) managed by a cloud provider. The figure is expected to rise to 39% by 2023.

Nearly half (44%) of respondents expect their primary way of ensuring business continuity and disaster recovery will be through a DisasterRecoveryas a Service (DRaaS) provider in the next two years.

A third (33%) of Russian organizations call cloud-based disaster recovery a key aspect of data protection.

Other important factors included the ability to move the load between clouds (29%), automate recovery and orchestration workflows (29%), and integrate data protection into a comprehensive information security strategy (38%).

The industry still appreciates the importance of backing up even the most reliable SaaS applications, such as Office 365. More than two out of five (41%) Russian companies as of March 2021 use third-party products and services for backing up Microsoft Office 365 data.

However, 47% of Microsoft Office 365 data in Russian organizations remains unprotected outside of built-in tools (for example, a mailbox recycle bin).

{{quote 'Given the rapid changes in IT strategy and the proliferation of services at a high pace, data protection is increasingly demanding: it should support the business and contribute to its development. You can no longer limit yourself to simply creating backups. Organizations expect much more from data protection systems: reducing costs, expanding automation, analytics, reusing data, and that's not all.

Under pressure from the accelerated implementation of cloud services caused primarily by the COVID-19 pandemic, traditional data protection solutions are no longer able to guarantee the availability of critical data. If companies need to update existing business practices, data protection will play a key role in this, Veeam Software concluded. }}

See also

• A catalog of backup solutions and projects is available on TAdviser.
• Backup system
• Backup System (Technology)
• Backup System (Security)
• Backup and Recovery Infrastructure Weaknesses
• Data Backup (Global)
• Backup'big data': 10 questions about deduplication
• TADnets: How to Organize Cloud Backups

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