In this exclusive interaction with The Catalyst, Mena Migally, Regional VP, EMEA East at Veeam, shares how the company is helping SMBs strengthen business continuity, embrace hybrid cloud securely, and foster a culture of innovation and resilience in a fast-changing threat landscape.
Many SMBs in EMEA East are undergoing digital transformation. What common pitfalls do you see in these projects, particularly concerning data protection?
One of the most common pitfalls is treating data protection as a secondary concern – something to be addressed after transformation is underway. In reality, data protection must be embedded from the start. Many SMBs underestimate the complexity of securing hybrid environments or fail to account for data sovereignty regulations that vary across markets. Without a clear resilience strategy, they risk fragmented recovery processes and compliance gaps. That’s why we advocate for proactive resilience, not reactive defence – a mindset shift that’s gaining traction across the region.
What role does Veeam play in helping companies ensure business continuity in the face of increasing cyber threats?
Veeam is at the forefront of helping organisations move from backup to business continuity. Our Data Resilience Maturity Model (DRMM) enables companies to benchmark their resilience posture and take measurable steps forward. Whether it’s ransomware recovery, clean-room isolation, or immutable backups, we provide the tools and frameworks to recover fast and recover right. But it’s not just about technology – it’s about trust. Our partnerships across financial services, healthcare, and government are built on shared goals: protect what matters, recover fast, and lead with confidence.
In addition, Coveware became part of Veeam in 2024, significantly enhancing our incident and cyber resilience capabilities. Coveware by Veeam brings industry-leading expertise in ransomware negotiation, forensic analysis, and post-incident remediation, now fully integrated with Veeam’s robust backup and recovery solutions. This unified approach means we help customers not only recover their data quickly and securely, but also proactively prepare for, respond to, and remediate cyber extortion incidents.
In your view, what are the biggest challenges organisations face when trying to integrate cybersecurity with operational efficiency?
The biggest challenge is cultural. Many organisations still see cybersecurity as a cost centre, not a strategic enabler. This leads to siloed teams, fragmented tooling, and reactive policies. To integrate cybersecurity with operational efficiency, leaders must foster cross-functional collaboration – bringing together security, IT, compliance, and business innovation. AI and automation can help, but only if the culture supports agility and shared accountability.
How do you see the convergence of backup, recovery, and cybersecurity evolving in enterprise environments?
We’re seeing a clear convergence where backup is no longer just about storage – it’s about security. Recovery is no longer just about uptime – it’s about integrity. Cybersecurity is no longer just about prevention – it’s about resilience. Enterprises are moving towards unified platforms that combine threat detection, secure backup, and orchestrated recovery. This convergence is driven by the need for speed, trust, and compliance in an increasingly complex threat landscape.
Hybrid cloud adoption is a growing trend. How can businesses balance agility with security when moving critical workloads to the cloud?
Hybrid cloud offers the best of both worlds – agility and control – but only if it’s architected with resilience in mind. Businesses must ensure that data governance, sovereignty, and compliance frameworks are built into their cloud strategy. At Veeam, we help organisations navigate this complexity by offering flexible, secure, and scalable solutions that support real-time analytics, AI workloads, and regulatory compliance. The key is to treat hybrid cloud not just as infrastructure, but as a business strategy.
How do you approach building a culture of innovation and resilience within your teams?
It starts with listening. Leadership in this region means tuning into the pulse of transformation – recognising that innovation isn’t just about technology, it’s about people. We empower diverse voices, encourage co-creation, and celebrate experimentation. Resilience is built not just through tools, but through trust. When teams feel safe to challenge assumptions and share ideas, they become more agile, more creative, and more resilient. That’s the culture we’re building at Veeam.
As SMBs across EMEA East continue to accelerate their digital transformation, the integration of data protection, cybersecurity, and business continuity has become essential for sustainable growth. Embedding resilience from the outset, leveraging unified platforms, and fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation allow organizations to navigate complex hybrid environments while maintaining operational efficiency. By prioritizing proactive strategies, measurable outcomes, and adaptive technologies, businesses can not only protect critical assets but also build trust, agility, and long-term competitiveness in an increasingly dynamic and threat-prone landscape.
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