Ransomware attacks made up 11% of all cyber incidents in 2024. This 3% increase from previous years highlights a startling reality: your data is in more danger than ever before. If not a ransomware attack, then human error or a software glitch could erase it just as easily.
Traditionally, the best way to solve this problem has been through the use of robust backup procedures. While this is still true, it has become more complicated. The backups themselves may be tampered with, or even erased by a single cloud glitch.
Unless, that is, alteration is impossible. So what are immutable backups? And how can you create one?
How Ransomware Endangers Your Data
Ransomware is a type of cyber-attack where threat actors steal or encrypt sensitive data, then demand payment for its safe return. During these attacks, cybercriminals work deliberately and methodically to apply as much pressure as possible. Where possible, they will attempt to shut down your operations entirely. They know that this makes you more vulnerable to their threats. Modern ransomware also typically includes double or triple extortion tactics: rather than simply encrypting data, malicious actors will additionally threaten to release, sell, or otherwise use sensitive information.
This, understandably, makes it extremely tempting to simply pay the ransom. However, this is the worst mistake you can make. While threat actors may offer to return your data in exchange for payment, the truth is that they have no reason to hold up their end of the bargain. In fact, waiting to receive payment and then selling the data anyway nets them additional profits.
This outcome is unfortunately more common than you might think: according to Forbes, 92% of businesses do not get all of their data back after paying the ransom. Instead, they have paid significantly more for the same outcome. In the process, they have also inadvertently told threat actors they are a viable target.
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The Consequences of Data Loss
Financial losses are far from the only negative consequence of a ransomware attack. The impact on your data is often far more devastating, inflicting long-term harm on your business.
The most immediate and noticeable consequence is operational downtime. Without the information your business needs to function, work comes to a halt. Staff cannot effectively complete tasks, clients are not served, and money stops flowing. The longer this continues, the more expensive it becomes.
Even after you recover and return to normal operations, you must contend with long-term reputational damage. As large-scale data breaches become more common, society grows increasingly privacy-conscious. Tolerance for mistakes is low, and a single incident can be enough to destroy the relationships you spent years building with clients. Once that trust is gone, you may never be able to win it back.
Finally, there are the potential legal consequences. Each business must comply with a set of regulatory requirements unique to their industry, size, location, and customer base. For example, all organisations operating within Australia are subject to the Privacy Act (1988). This law in particular was recently amended to require that all businesses (even those with a turnover of less than $3 million) follow mandatory data breach reporting requirements.
If it is found that data was stolen as a result of your failure to maintain high data security standards (which in many cases includes strong backup procedures), you may find yourself in breach of these rules. This can result in audits, harsh fines, lawsuits, or other penalties.
How Backups Protect Your Business
All of the negative outcomes described above can be prevented. The solution is strong, reliable backups. These protect you in several ways:
- Business Continuity: A backup means you retain access to important information during and after a ransomware attack. Instead of wasting hours or days trying to restore what you lost, you can continue to operate relatively normally.
- Trust: While it does not completely undo the reputational harm caused by a breach, a backup does make you appear more prepared to handle these situations. Clients are more likely to give you the benefit of the doubt for the occasional breach, if it is clear that you prioritise data security. This means that much of the damage is mitigated.
- Compliance: A reliable backup policy helps you remain compliant with relevant regulations, reducing your likelihood of experiencing an audit or fine.
Immutable Backups: Definition and Importance
Now, you understand why backups matter. But what does an “Immutable backup” mean, and how does it differ from a normal one?
The truth is, not all backup procedures are created equal. Some are better than others. Many traditional backup solutions carry a fatal flaw: they are just as prone to failure as your normal data storage. During a ransomware attack in particular, there is a very real risk that your backups could be breached just as quickly.
Why does this happen? In short, because businesses have been using backups to counteract ransomware attacks for decades. Modern threat actors know that this is the biggest barrier standing between them and an enormous profit. They now actively search for your backups. If they find them (and they usually will), your business is in trouble.
Immutable backups, by definition, cannot be modified or tampered with. This makes them more resilient against threats such as ransomware, which specifically target your data integrity. If you can ensure that backups cannot be altered under any circumstances, then you have created a perfect, permanent record of your business data at a given moment in time. This is invaluable. It significantly reduces the power that a ransomware attack holds over your business, and can protect you from other circumstances where a regular backup might fail.
What Makes a Backup Immutable?
The exact mechanics that make a backup immutable can vary. Some common strategies include:
Write Once, Read Many (WORM) Storage
This system allows you to read data multiple times, but not modify it once it has been written. You are likely already familiar with its most basic form: a CD-R disc. You can read the information stored on that disc as many times as you would like – but once it has been written, it cannot be altered. Modern WORM storage typically involves software solutions designed to mimic this trait.
Retention Policies
Many cloud providers now offer you the option to proactively determine how long data should be kept for, and under what circumstances it may be deleted. This is called a “Retention policy”, and provides significantly more flexibility to keep or erase data as needed. In many cases, these policies can then be locked, preventing any changes.
Separation of Duties
Separation of duties is a governance policy that requires multiple individuals to agree to an action before it can be performed. This is usually accomplished by splitting up access privileges between the desired parties, forcing them to communicate before any action can be taken. Not only does this prevent accidental data deletion, but it also mitigates the risk associated with a beached admin account. Threat actors would need access to multiple accounts to truly threaten your data.
These are just a few ways to create backup immutability. Anything that makes your data tamper-proof will have the same effect.
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Common Misconceptions About Immutable Backups
There are many misconceptions about what an immutable backup is, and how it works. Some of these include:
Cloud Backups Are the Same Thing
Cloud backups are valuable, as they provide an off-site copy of data. If you experience an emergency such as a fire or flood, storing information at a secondary location in this manner can save your business. However, this strategy will not protect you against ransomware, as threat actors are aware of cloud backups and will search for them.
Immutable Backups Are Too Complicated
This is not necessarily true. An immutable backup can be relatively simple to implement. If you don’t have the internal expertise to do this effectively, there are third-party experts who specialise in backups and can help.
Immutable Backups Are Unnecessary - Having Multiple Copies Is Good Enough
Maintaining multiple backups is crucial to reduce the risk of data loss. But this is not the same thing as an immutable backup. No matter how many copies you have, they can be destroyed, lost, or altered. Immutable backups cannot.
Best Practices for Implementing Immutable Data Backups
Even the best immutable backup solutions can fail, if they are not supported by your entire business. Implement the following best practices to avoid pitfalls and improve your chances of success:
- Strategy: Creating backups thoughtlessly will not get you anywhere. Start with a well-developed strategy outlining which backups will be used, how often to test them, and when they should be restored.
- Training: Provide staff training on how the new backups work, and additional support while they get used to using them.
- Tests: Test your backups regularly to ensure that data can be restored after an emergency. If there is a problem, you do not want to discover it during a ransomware attack.
- Security: Support your backups with layered security measures designed to protect them, such as multi-factor authentication and Zero Trust architecture.
- Documentation: Keep thorough documentation of your backup policies and procedures. This ensures consistency, and helps demonstrate compliance in the event of an audit.
When to Bring in a Backup Expert
Backups can be far more complicated than you might expect, particularly when your goal is immutability. If your strategy thus far has been to create a backup and then leave it running silently in the background, then your business is not as resilient as you think it is. Strong backup procedures require oversight and maintenance.
If that sounds unachievable, you are not the only one who feels that way. One reason backups are so often neglected is the amount of work required to maintain them correctly. There’s another solution. Partnering with a third-party provider who specialises in backups can take the load off your team’s shoulders, allowing them to focus on other tasks.
Warning Signs That You Need Expert Support
The following can be signs that you are not managing backups on your own, and need help:
- You don’t have full visibility over your backup status or history
- Your backups are not immutable
- You are not currently certain whether your backups have actually worked
- You don’t have a recovery strategy in place for emergencies, or it has not been tested
- You’re running into compliance issues
- Your team is showing signs of overwork (such as reduced morale or slower response times)
- You have previously lost data to a ransomware attack or other incident
Choosing the Right Provider
Not all providers are equal, and you will need to choose carefully. The wrong one could end up causing more harm than good, ruining any successful backups you already had. Look for these traits before making your decision:
- Specialisation: Choose a provider who specialises in backups, rather than trying to provide everything to everyone. The “Jack of all trades” is often overstretched and cannot provide all of their services effectively.
- Experience: Look for case studies and testimonials that show a track record of success.
- Strategy: Ask what their strategy looks like. How will they strengthen your business’ resilience?
- Proactivity: Your chosen provider should act quickly and independently. They should proactively check that your backups are safe, and find strategies to improve them further.
- Communication: Your provider should tell you the whole truth, even when it’s hard to hear. They should communicate transparently and respond to queries within a reasonable time frame.
- A Recovery-First Mindset: Your provider should have a positive attitude focused on improving resilience and protecting your business from the worst-case scenario. They should be realistic about the fact that data will be erased, but ready to help you recover.
FAQs
Can You Define Immutable Backup?
Any backup that cannot be altered or deleted is considered “Immutable”. This includes a variety of solutions and strategies.
How Does Backup Immutability Protect Me From Ransomware?
Ransomware attacks are focused almost entirely on your data. Because of this, your best defence is strong backup practices.
Is Immutable Storage Only for Bigger Businesses?
No. Every business can benefit from data immutability. It is one of the most effective ways of protecting data from modifications or deletions.
How Often Should Backups Be Updated and Tested?
Data should be backed up once per day at an absolute minimum. Testing should occur regularly – at least once per quarter, but preferably more often – to ensure that recovery procedures work as expected.
Can Cloud Storage be Immutable?
Sometimes. While cloud backups are not inherently immutable, this does not mean they can’t be.
Improve Your Business Resilience With Fully Immutable Backup Solutions
Backups are an important part of ensuring business continuity and resilience. But it isn’t enough to throw your data onto a hard drive and shove it into a closet. If your backups are not immutable and supported by a solid strategy, then you may as well rely on hope and prayers. The end result is the same.
True resilience means having immutable backups that are regularly tested and supported with best practices. Using this strategy, you cannot go wrong. If you follow the roadmap laid out in front of you, and put the work into maintaining backups effectively, you will be rewarded with a business that can withstand even the worst disasters with ease.
At Cybersecure, we don’t define resilience by the absence of threats. We know that threats are coming, whether you’re ready or not. We judge success by how certain you are to recover, and provide the safety net you need to make sure you do. If you’re interested in learning more, explore our backup-as-a-service (BaaS) model today.