Growing Risks from ROT Data in Cybersecurity

• •58% of enterprises faced data breaches in the last year, with significant ROT data risks.
• •Only 21% of enterprise data is classified, complicating data protection efforts.
• •Physical destruction of devices remains common, but certified data sanitization is recommended.

Recent reports indicate that ROT (Redundant, Obsolete, and Trivial) data is becoming a significant security risk for enterprises. A 2026 study revealed that 58% of organizations experienced a data breach in the past year, with 32% of those breaches attributed to stolen or misplaced devices containing sensitive information. The lack of data classification is alarming, with only 21% of enterprise data being categorized, making effective data protection challenging. Furthermore, physical destruction of devices is still a common practice, with 43% of mobile devices and 35% of laptops destroyed to secure data, despite being inefficient. Organizations are urged to adopt certified data sanitization methods to mitigate risks associated with ROT data. The findings highlight the need for better alignment of data management policies with actual organizational practices.