That’s despite AI being the belle of the boardroom spending ball. But as ever, firms are bungling the basics.

Nasuni president David Grant said: “Organisations are making AI a top priority and significantly ramping up their investments, but we are finding that they are not always taking the critical steps necessary to ensure success when it comes to data management.”

The research highlighted the digital carnage caused by cyberattacks, with recovery dragging out an average of five weeks and gutting productivity.

While firms pile cash into AI, nearly half plan to increase spending in the next 18 months, but just one in three are doing the groundwork with cloud data management. Data migration remains the chief nightmare, with 96 per cent struggling to shift their file data into usable shape.

Even more damning, only 20 per cent of organisations say their data is structured, accessible, and ready to roll for AI. The rest are a jumbled mess.

Grant added: “A modern approach that unifies, organises, and makes unstructured data accessible is needed to reliably and securely harness AI, enabling teams to navigate the complexities of AI deployment Confidently.”

Hybrid cloud setups are gaining traction, too, with their AI-ready chops and enhanced security standing out. Companies not adopting hybrid storage are 51 per cent more likely to struggle with data security and privacy fears.