Backing up your data is a non-negotiable part of protecting your business. With threats to your files ranging from malicious ransomware attacks to innocent mistakes like accidental deletion, every organisation needs to be prepared for lost data.
But not all backups are created equal. One type of backup solution you may have heard of is an immutable backup. But what does this mean, and how does it differ from other forms of backup technology?
What are immutable backups?
An immutable backup is a data backup that cannot be altered, deleted, or encrypted for a specific period of time. By making your backup immutable, you build a wall around your data that not even the sharpest cybercriminals with the most sophisticated tools can penetrate.
Here are some of the key features of an immutable backup:
- Time-locked retention: You set how long your data remains protected, guaranteeing security from any kind of alteration.
- Encryption and access controls: Only authorised users can access the backup – but even they can’t modify or delete it.
- Air-gapped or cloud-based storage: Immutable backups are often held offsite to make them inaccessible to attackers.
- Automated versioning: You can create multiple versions of the same backup over time to ensure you always have a clean version ready to go.
Immutable backups vs. traditional data backup
Given the above, you may be wondering why anyone would ever not choose immutable backup over traditional forms of data storage. There are a few circumstantial reasons:
- Storage efficiency: Immutable backups require additional storage, which can make them expensive – more on this below.
- Compliance: Regulations like GDPR’s ‘right to be forgotten’ require businesses to delete personal data on request. As immutable backups can’t be edited or deleted, they can occasionally make compliance difficult.
- Flexibility: Businesses that work with constantly evolving datasets may prefer to update them regularly, rather than locking their data for long periods.
These factors may lead organisations to prefer traditional, mutable backups in rare instances. However, if your priority is protecting your data to the maximum possible degree, immutable backups are a must.
The risks of traditional backup
As ransomware attacks become increasingly sophisticated, cybercriminals are now targeting backup systems in combination with live datasets. If your backups are hacked, they become worthless. A compromised backup is as bad as not backing up your data to begin with. It may even be worse, as you’re paying for the privilege.
When hackers take over your backups, you may be left with no choice but to pay a ransom or accept data loss. Many organisations make the mistake of thinking that if their data is backed up, it’s safe and protected no matter what. That’s no longer the case.
The benefits of immutable backup
By creating a second system of files independent from your original datasets and backups, immutable backups are the ultimate failsafe. Here’s why you need them:
Ransomware protection
Attackers get into your network, lock you out, and encrypt your live data. With immutable backups, you have nothing to fear – the backups remain unaffected no matter how deep the hackers penetrate your systems.
No accidental deletion
Someone at work takes it upon themselves to ‘tidy up’ your folders and delete unneeded files. A few weeks later, a request pops up and that old document you were counting on has vanished… but not with an immutable backup.
Regulatory compliance
Above, we discussed how compliance standards can occasionally work against immutable backups. But the opposite is also true. Many industries require strict data retention policies. For example, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) mandates that broker-dealers retain certain records in a non-rewritable, non-erasable format to prevent tampering or deletion.
Restore with Redstor
Immutable backups are at the heart of Redstor’s data storage solutions. Our immutable backups keep your business safe from the most advanced ransomware attacks lurking out there in the cyber landscape, no matter what the hackers throw at us. Here’s how:
- Secure cloud storage: Our immutable backups are stored in tamper-proof cloud environments.
- Policy-based retention and compliance: Your needs are our priorities. Redstor allows businesses to set customer retention policies to meet industry standards.
- Cost-effective protection: Immutable backups can require expensive hardware or complex management. Redstor’s scalable, cloud-first approach, eliminates these concerns to protect your data and your wallet.
Don’t waste time worrying about the safety of your data. Learn how Redstor can keep your organisation secure by getting in touch today.