Ransomware attacks have skyrocketed in recent years, with an estimated 236.1 million attacks globally in the first half of 2022 alone. These attacks aren’t just targeting large corporations; a staggering 61% of organizations with under 1,000 employees have fallen victim to ransomware. While 83% of organizations claim to have a backup plan, traditional backups are proving increasingly vulnerable as hackers evolve their tactics to target and corrupt backup data.
To combat this escalating threat, organizations of all sizes are turning to immutable backups. Scroll down to learn everything you need to know about immutable backups and learn how to defend your organizations effectively.
Understanding Immutable Backups: The Power of Unchangeable Data
Immutable, in simple words, means that once the data is written, it cannot be modified, deleted, or overwritten for the defined period. This is achieved through:
- Object Locking: This method involves setting a “lock” on individual data objects (files, folders, etc.) for a specific retention period. During this time, the data cannot be modified or deleted, even by administrators.
- WORM Storage (Write Once, Read Many): WORM storage devices are specifically designed to prevent any changes to written data. Once data is written to a WORM device, it will become permanently etched, and ensures its integrity.
- Blockchain-Based Immutability: Some newer solutions also leverage blockchain technology to create an immutable ledger of your backups, providing an even higher level of tamper-proof protection to your protected data.
How Immutable Backups Thwart Ransomware
When ransomware tries to encrypt or delete your data, it will hit a wall when it encounters immutable backup. Given your data will remain untouched and accessible, immutable backups will also allow you to restore your systems and operations without paying a ransom.
For maximum protection, you can also consider maintaining an air-gapped or offline copy of your immutable backups.
Implementing Immutable Backups: Your Step-by-Step Guide
Choosing the Right Immutable Backup Solution
Right Immutable Backup Solution
| Type of Solution | Pros | Cons | Popular Vendors | Key Considerations |
| Cloud-Based | Off-site storage, scalability, ease of use | Less control over data, potential latency issues | AWS, Azure, Google Cloud Platform | Cost (storage, egress fees), data transfer speed, vendor lock-in, compliance requirements |
| On-Premises | Control over data, integration with existing infrastructure | Higher upfront costs, requires IT expertise | Veeam, Rubrik, Cohesity, Dell EMC | Hardware costs, maintenance, scalability limitations |
| Hybrid | Flexibility, redundancy, combines cloud and on-premises benefits | Complexity, potential management overhead | Commvault, Veritas NetBackup | Requires careful planning and coordination, cost considerations |
Configuring Immutable Backup Policies
Once you’ve chosen your solution from the above three, the next step is to define how your immutability will work:
| Policy Aspect | Description | Considerations | Example Scenarios |
| Retention Periods | Duration for which immutable backups are retained. | Industry regulations (e.g., HIPAA, GDPR), internal compliance, data recovery objectives (RTOs). Balance longer retention for critical data with storage costs. | Financial records (7 years), operational data (1 year), log files (1 week) |
| Immutability Policies | Specific data types or folders marked as immutable (unchangeable). | Sensitivity and criticality of data. Prioritize databases, financial records, customer PII, legal documents, etc. | SQL Server database, customer records, financial reports |
| Optimization Tips | Strategies to enhance efficiency and security while minimizing costs. | Use shorter immutability periods for less critical data. Combine immutability with other security measures (e.g., air-gapping). Regularly review and adjust policies based on changing needs and data landscape. | Shorten immutability period for log files. Use air-gapping for backups containing sensitive customer data. |
Testing and Verifying Immutable Backups
It is the regular testing that will ensure the reliability of your immutable backups. So, these steps will help:
- Recovery Drills: Ensure to perform periodic recovery tests to verify that you can restore data from your immutable backups successfully.
- Integrity Checks: Use checksums or other verification methods to ensure that your backup data remains unaltered regardless of anyone trying to erase or modify it.
- Monitoring: Set up alerts to notify you of any failed backups or issues with your immutability settings.
- Documentation: Keep detailed records of your backup policies, testing procedures, and recovery results.
Beyond Ransomware: Additional Benefits of Immutable Backups
Immutable backups act as a safeguard against a range of threats beyond ransomware, including:
- Accidental Deletion: Even with the best intentions, human error can lead to accidental deletion of critical data. Immutable backups ensure a recoverable copy exists.
- Hardware Failures: Hard drives crash, servers malfunction – immutable backups offer an offsite or offline copy that remains accessible.
- Insider Threats: Malicious or disgruntled employees can intentionally damage or delete data. Immutable backups protect against such insider sabotage.
- Data Corruption:Software bugs, viruses, or other issues can corrupt data. Immutable backups provide a clean, uncorrupted version for restoration.
Moreover, immutable backups play a vital role in:
- Data Integrity: Guaranteeing that your backup data remains unaltered and authentic, essential for maintaining the accuracy of your records.
- Ensures Compliance: Additionally, many industries have regulations mandating data retention and protection. Immutable backups help meet these compliance requirements by ensuring the availability of unaltered data copies.
Long-Term Data Retention and Archiving:
Immutable backups are ideal for long-term data preservation:
- Archiving: They provide a secure and reliable way to store historical data that may not be actively used but needs to be retained for legal or reference purposes.
- Regulatory Compliance: Industries like healthcare and finance often have stringent requirements for long-term data retention. Immutable backups ensure you meet these mandates without worrying about data tampering or accidental deletion.
- Historical Analysis: Immutable backups can be used to analyze trends, track changes, or gain insights from past data.
Legal and Forensic Value:
In the event of legal disputes or cyber investigations, immutable backups become invaluable. Even in the cases where you might need to provide the unaltered copies of the data, like in courts, immutable data can serve as admissible evidence.
Conclusion,
Immutable backups have become a non-negotiable element in the modern cybersecurity landscape and organizations of all sizes are aptly choosing it to guard themselves against ransomware and other cyber threats. The idea of immutable data is simple — it just ensures that your data remains unalterable and recoverable — but that is enough to give you a peace of mind and enable your organizations to quickly rebound in case of devastating attacks.