Which is considered more costly for companies to lose?

Losing data is generally considered more costly for companies because data typically holds significant value and importance to an organization’s operations, strategy, and customer relationships. Data includes critical information about customers, financial transactions, proprietary processes, and intellectual property. When data is lost, not only is there a risk of immediate operational disruption, but there can also be long-term repercussions, such as loss of customer trust, regulatory penalties, and competitive disadvantage.

In contrast, while losing hardware can incur direct costs related to replacement and downtime, hardware itself may be more easily replaceable depending on the context. The loss of data, however, can lead to permanent damage if backups are not available, and the inherent value of data cannot always be quantified in monetary terms alone. This makes data loss a more severe concern for many organizations, as it may affect their very ability to operate effectively in the long run.

Thus, while both hardware and data are important, data loss is typically viewed as having a higher risk and potential impact on a company's overall success and sustainability.