Commvault, a leader in cyber resilience and data protection for hybrid cloud environments, has announced a major collaboration with SimSpace, a specialist in high-fidelity cyber range solutions. Together, they have launched the Commvault Recovery Range, which integrates realistic cyberattack simulations with hands-on recovery training. This new platform is designed to equip IT teams with both the skills to manage attacks and the expertise needed to recover swiftly and securely.
Commvault Recovery Range sets itself apart by offering an end-to-end training experience, moving beyond the traditional focus on detection and containment. Using SimSpace’s award-winning simulation technology and Commvault’s advanced recovery tools, the platform allows defenders to practise the entire incident lifecycle. Participants can detect, respond to, and recover from sophisticated threats within an environment that mirrors their own production networks.
The importance of this training is underlined by the alarming frequency and impact of ransomware attacks. Research indicates that a company falls victim to ransomware every 14 seconds, with downtime averaging over 24 days. Such incidents cost organisations millions of dollars in lost revenue, reputational damage, and operational disruption. With thorough preparation, including validated recovery processes, businesses can significantly reduce downtime and maintain operational continuity.
Bill O’Connell, Chief Security Officer at Commvault, explained, “Together with SimSpace, we are offering companies something that’s truly unique in the market – the physical, emotional, and psychological experience of a real-world cyberattack and the harrowing challenges often experienced in attempting to rapidly recover.” He added that the partnership would help companies strengthen their security posture and business resilience.
High-fidelity attack scenarios and recovery drills
The Commvault Recovery Range immerses participants in a simulated environment that replicates their own network setup. Defenders face complex threats such as Netwalker ransomware while dealing with realistic user behaviours like email exchanges and application usage. The simulation demands quick, strategic decision-making under pressure, closely mirroring real-world cyberattacks.
In contrast to many existing cyber ranges, Commvault Recovery Range also stresses the recovery process. Participants experience challenging recovery scenarios that highlight the importance of backup validation, data cleansing, and swift restoration. Using tools like Commvault Cloud for threat scanning, Air Gap Protect for immutable storage, Cleanroom Recovery for recovery testing, and Cloud Rewind for rebuilding cloud-native applications, teams learn how to recover operations quickly without risking reinfection.
The platform encourages collaboration across various roles, including Chief Security Officers (CSOs), Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs), Chief Information Officers (CIOs), IT Operations, and Security Operations. By working together in high-pressure scenarios, teams build a unified strategy to respond to crises and restore services effectively.
Roland Cloutier, Founder of The Business Protection Group and former Global Chief Security Officer of TikTok, stated, “Creating muscle memory in cyber recovery operations requires more than a degree and years of experience. It takes continued practitioner-level training, where security and IT teams engage together in live-fire exercises.”
Industry support for a more resilient future
Industry leaders have welcomed the initiative. Michele Buschman, Chief Information Officer at American Pacific Mortgage, said, “The realistic attack scenarios and recovery drills will help instil a sense of confidence in our recovery process and in understanding exactly what we need to do to get back up and running quickly – essential to keeping our business running smoothly.”
Phil Goodwin, Research Vice President at IDC, highlighted the importance of practising under realistic conditions. He commented, “Teams need to practise under game conditions. This new Commvault Recovery Range puts cyber response teams into a realistic simulation where ITOps, SecOps, and line-of-business teams must work together.”
Krista Case, Research Director at Futurum Group, added, “Commvault and SimSpace are truly helping organisations build the muscle memory needed not just to fight off attackers, but to rapidly and safely get back to business afterward.”
Another key element of the collaboration is helping organisations define their “minimum viability” – the essential applications, assets, and processes needed for recovery after a cyberattack. Tools like the Commvault Recovery Range are designed to support this understanding, ensuring companies are prepared for the worst.
Commvault serves over 100,000 organisations worldwide, offering cyber resilience platforms that combine data security and recovery across all workloads. SimSpace continues to push the boundaries in cyber training, providing immersive environments that prepare organisations to defend against evolving cyber threats.
