11:11 Systems’ Research Finds IT Leaders Overwhelmed by the Complexity of Combatting Cyberattacks

New report finds that 74% of IT leaders believe that integrating AI into their businesses could increase vulnerability, but only 16% rely on cyber recovery providers for expertise

FAIRFIELD, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--11:11 Systems (“11:11”), a leading managed infrastructure provider, today announced its latest research findings. A new global study of over 800 senior IT professionals reveals the concerns of IT leaders as they struggle with the rising complexity of cyber recovery planning. From managing cybersecurity strategies to addressing staffing expertise, testing requirements and access to clean room infrastructure, the challenges of responding to cyber incidents are putting businesses under significant strain.

The survey, conducted across North America, Europe and Asia Pacific, highlights that cyber incident recovery has never been more critical. Over 80% of respondents have experienced at least one significant cyberattack, while 57% endured two or more cyberattacks within the past year.

Key findings from the 11:11 report include:

• Cyber incident recovery remains difficult. Almost half of respondents (45%) believe that the complexity of planning required for cyber incident recovery is the biggest challenge.
• Overconfidence is common. Over 80% of IT leaders agreed that their company is overconfident in its cyber incident recovery abilities.
• IT leaders are concerned about AI. A notable 74% of respondents feel that integrating AI into their businesses could potentially increase their vulnerability to cyberattacks.
• Businesses are prioritizing cyber incident recovery in budget planning. Most respondents (96%) are very likely or somewhat likely to invest in cyber incident recovery in the next 12 months.
• Customization is key. Two-thirds (65%) of IT leaders agree that customization of recovery solutions for application-level recovery and cyber-related incidents is important.

In addition, the 11:11 report revealed the significant financial losses that result from cyberattacks. Over 80% of IT leaders reported spending at least six figures during just one hour of downtime. The top 5% spent over one million dollars per hour of downtime. Surprisingly, given the financial implications, the survey also uncovered that 30% of businesses do not test their recovery plans annually.

“Cyber threats are evolving in both volume and sophistication, and the research highlights how unprepared many organizations still feel when it comes to recovery—especially as AI adds new layers of complexity,” said Justin Giardina, chief technology officer, 11:11 Systems. “Relying on outdated plans and hoping for the best is not the answer.”

Giardina continued, “At 11:11, we believe that true cyber resilience requires a proactive, holistic approach: advanced recovery platforms with AI-driven detection, secure air-gapped clean room infrastructure and tailored expertise that works alongside your team. By modernizing recovery strategies and integrating intelligent, adaptable solutions, businesses can ensure they’re not just surviving cyber incidents—they’re recovering fast, reducing risk, and emerging stronger every time.”

About the Report

The 11:11 Cyber Trends Report – 2025 from 11:11 Systems gathered insights from 800+ senior IT, security and risk leaders in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, representing companies with at least 1,000 employees. The data reflects the alarming complexities of cyber recovery planning, growing concern around AI, rising costs of downtime and the pressing need for organizations to modernize their cyber recovery strategies.

The full 11:11 Cyber Trends Report – 2025 is available now for download.

About 11:11 Systems

11:11 Systems is a managed infrastructure solutions provider that empowers customers to modernize, protect and manage mission-critical applications and data, leveraging 11:11’s resilient cloud platform. Learn more at 11:11 Systems.