What Is Ransomware Backup?
Ransomware backup is a targeted approach to data backup designed to protect against ransomware attacks. It includes strategies and tools that ensure data remains secure and accessible even if the primary data systems are compromised. Both data integrity and availability take a central place in this backup strategy.
The concept goes beyond traditional backup by stressing the importance of advanced security features, such as immutability and cyber-resiliency. The goal is to maintain a robust, recoverable data archive that remains untouched by malicious entities. Having a ransomware-specific backup plan can dramatically decrease downtime and reduce the financial and operational impacts of an attack.
This is part of a series of articles about ransomware protection
In this article:
- Why You Need a Backup Strategy for Ransomware
- 6 Key Strategies for Ransomware Backup
- How to Defend Your Backups From Being Compromised by Ransomware
Why You Need a Backup Strategy for Ransomware
Ransomware attacks are escalating in frequency and sophistication, leading to substantial operational disruption and financial loss. Inadequate preparation can leave organizations vulnerable to these attacks, with data recovery costs often running into the millions. Therefore, a ransomware-specific backup strategy is crucial for maintaining business continuity.
In addition, many regulatory requirements mandate rigorous data protection standards. Compliance with these standards not only avoids legal repercussions but also enhances customer trust. Implementing a strong backup strategy tailored for ransomware can fulfill these regulatory requirements while safeguarding the organization’s data assets.
6 Key Strategies for Ransomware Backup
1. Backup Data Frequently to Minimize Loss
Frequent backups are critical in minimizing data loss in case of a ransomware attack. At least a daily backup frequency ensures that the most current data is preserved, reducing the amount of lost work and disruption. This frequent backup routine should be automated to avoid human error and to guarantee consistency.
In addition to daily backups, point-in-time snapshots can be leveraged for higher-frequency data changes. These snapshots capture the state of data at specific intervals, allowing for more granular recovery points. Implementing daily backups and supplementary snapshots provides a robust defense against ransomware-induced data loss.
TIP: With N2WS, you can take backups as frequently as every 60 seconds.
2. Keep at Least One Backup Offsite or Offline
Storing backups offsite or offline is a fundamental strategy in protecting against ransomware. This ensures that even if local systems are compromised, a clean and unaffected backup remains accessible. Geographic separation of backup locations also offers protection against physical disasters.
Offline backups, such as those stored on tape or isolated networks, are immune to network-based ransomware attacks. This air-gapped approach greatly enhances the security posture, ensuring that at least one copy of the data is always safe and recoverable.
TIP: You can also “air gap” with N2WS by storing backups from AWS in Azure.
3. Automate Your Backups
Automation simplifies the backup process, ensuring consistency and reliability while reducing the risk of human error. Automated systems can be configured to perform regular backups without manual intervention, adhering to the predefined schedule and policies.
In addition, automated backups ensure timely data preservation and allow for scaling the backup processes as the organization grows. Integrating automation within the backup strategy not only strengthens data security but also optimizes operational efficiency.
TIP: N2WS makes it easy to automate backups across regions, accounts, or clouds.
4. Utilize Immutable Storage
Immutable storage refers to storage systems where once data is written, it cannot be altered or deleted for a predefined period. This feature is critical in protecting against ransomware, as it ensures that malicious actors cannot compromise backup data.
By incorporating immutable storage in the backup strategy, organizations can guarantee the integrity and availability of their backup archives. This unchangeable state of data acts as a last line of defense, providing assurance that an untouched copy is always available for recovery.
TIP: You can turn on Compliance-Mode immutability for EBS and S3 snapshots with N2WS.
5. Use the 3-2-1-1 Rule
The 3-2-1-1 rule is a widely accepted backup strategy that involves having three copies of data, stored on two different media, with one copy being offsite, and one copy immutable. This methodology increases the chances of data recovery during a ransomware attack.
Implementing this rule provides a multi-layered defense. By using diverse media and offsite locations, the data remains insulated from localized threats. The inclusion of an immutable copy prevents tampering, ensuring a reliable and clean version is always available for restoration.
TIP: To achieve this in the cloud, store a DR backup in another cloud provider as your offsite copy (which you can do with N2WS).
6. Have a Backup Recovery Plan
A well-defined backup recovery plan is essential for effective disaster recovery. This plan should detail the procedures for restoring data from backups comprehensively, including roles, responsibilities, and required resources.
Regular testing and updating of the recovery plan are equally important. Simulated recovery drills help identify gaps and improve response times, ensuring that the plan remains effective against evolving ransomware threats. A robust recovery plan minimizes downtime and loss during an actual attack.
TIP: Recovery Scenarios is a built-in feature of N2WS that allows for automated DR testing.
Here are 5 tips that can help you better adapt to ransomware backup and recovery strategies:
- Maintain encryption for backups: Create cross-region backups of encrypted resources to ensure data protection and mitigate risks from ransomware or cybersecurity issues.
- Segment backup networks: Isolate your backup systems from the main network. Use dedicated VLANs and ensure backups are not accessible from the same network segment as your operational systems.
- Regularly verify backup integrity: Perform regular checks and validation of your backups to ensure that the data is not corrupted and can be successfully restored when needed.
- Adopt a rolling backup strategy: Implement a rolling backup schedule where multiple versions of data are retained over different time frames. This helps in restoring to a point before the ransomware infection occurred.
- Use endpoint protection to secure backup agents: Ensure that all devices and servers running backup agents have robust endpoint protection to prevent them from becoming entry points for ransomware.
How to Defend Your Backups From Being Compromised by Ransomware
Ensure Cyber-Resiliency of Backups
Achieving cyber-resiliency means ensuring that backups can withstand and quickly recover from cyber-attacks. This involves implementing multi-layer security measures such as encryption, access controls, and regular vulnerability assessments. Cyber-resilient backup systems are designed to be resistant to tampering and corruption, providing a reliable safety net.
Use Strong Encryption For All Backups
Encryption is a vital technique for safeguarding backups against unauthorized access. All backup data, both in transit and at rest, should be encrypted using strong, industry-standard algorithms to prevent interception and unauthorized decryption.
Implementing robust encryption protocols adds an additional layer of security, making it increasingly difficult for ransomware to compromise backup data. Ensuring consistent encryption practices across all backup processes is crucial for maintaining data security and compliance with regulatory standards.
Secure Access with the Zero Trust Model
The zero trust security model operates on the principle of “never trust, always verify,” meaning that no user or device is trusted by default, even if they are inside the network perimeter. Applying this model to backup systems adds stringent access controls.
By implementing zero trust, organizations can prevent unauthorized access to backup data, mitigating the risk of malicious activities. Continuous monitoring, authentication, and strict access policies are integral to protecting backups under the zero trust framework.
Train your Employees on Cybersecurity Best Practices
Employee training is a critical component in protecting backup systems from ransomware. Staff should be educated on identifying phishing attempts, handling sensitive data securely, and following best practices in cybersecurity.
Regularly updated training programs ensure that employees stay aware of evolving threats and security protocols. Empowering the workforce with the knowledge to act as a first line of defense significantly enhances the organization’s overall security posture, complementing technical measures in ransomware protection.
Related content: Read our guide to ransomware prevention (coming soon)
Ransomware-Ready Backups with N2WS
To defend against ransomware attacks, a robust backup strategy is essential. Leveraging N2WS can ensure your backups are ransomware-ready, protecting your data and ensuring swift recovery. Key strategies include:
- Frequent Backups: Automate backups to occur as frequently as every 60 seconds to minimize data loss.
- Cross-Cloud DR: Store DR backups across cloud providers, from AWS to Azure, to safeguard against local system compromises.
- Automation: Simplify and ensure consistency in your backup process by automating across regions, accounts, or clouds.
- Immutable Storage: Utilize Compliance-Mode immutability for EBS and S3 snapshots to prevent tampering.
- Automate DR Backups of Encrypted Resources: Protect your data with automated disaster recovery backups that ensure encrypted resources are securely backed up and easily recoverable.
- Recovery Planning: Develop and regularly test a comprehensive backup recovery plan with automated DR testing using N2WS.
Ensuring your backups are ransomware-ready with N2WS provides an extra layer of security and peace of mind. Download our free Disaster-Proof Backup Checklist to further fortify your defense against ransomware and other disruptions, and fill in the gaps of your backup strategy.
