How to Ransom-Proof Your Storage and Backups

                 Ransomware attacks are a growing menace, with the global cost of ransomware predicted to exceed $20 billion in 2023—a staggering increase from just $325 million in 2015. As an IT manager, the pressure is on to ensure your organization’s data is secure and recoverable in the face of such threats. One of the most effective ways to defend against ransomware is by implementing a strong backup and storage strategy. Below, we explore six key strategies to ransomware-proof your backups and storage, along with the reasons why these steps are crucial in protecting your organization.

1. Implement the 3-2-1 Backup Strategy

The 3-2-1 backup strategy is a foundational approach in data protection, and for good reason. It involves keeping three copies of your data—two on different media and one offsite. This method drastically reduces the risk of total data loss, even in the event of a ransomware attack.

Why it works: Ransomware often seeks to encrypt or destroy accessible data, but by having multiple copies stored across different platforms, you create layers of redundancy that make it difficult for ransomware to affect all your data at once. The offsite backup is particularly crucial because it protects your data from local threats, whether they be ransomware, natural disasters, or hardware failures.

Stat Insight: According to a survey by Datto, 90% of MSPs reported having clients that suffered ransomware attacks in 2021. However, those with the 3-2-1 strategy in place were able to recover data significantly faster and with less impact on their operations.

2. Air-Gapped Backups

Air-gapping is the practice of isolating a backup from your network, ensuring it remains inaccessible to ransomware that spreads through network connections. This can be achieved by physically disconnecting the storage media or using removable media that is only connected when backups are performed.

Why it works: Ransomware often spreads quickly through network connections, targeting all accessible files and backups. An air-gapped backup is effectively invisible to ransomware, rendering it immune to direct attacks. This means that even if your network is compromised, your air-gapped backup remains safe and can be used to restore operations.

Stat Insight: Studies show that 68% of organizations that paid a ransom still failed to recover all their data. Air-gapped backups can prevent the need to even consider paying a ransom, as your untouched backups allow for a full data restoration.

3. Immutable Backups

Immutable backups are backups that cannot be modified or deleted once they are created. Many modern backup solutions offer immutability features, ensuring that your data remains untouched, even if an attacker gains access to your backup system.

Why it works: Ransomware attackers often attempt to delete or corrupt backups to force victims into paying ransoms. Immutable backups lock the data, making such tampering impossible. This provides a reliable safety net, ensuring that your data is recoverable without having to engage with the attackers.

Stat Insight: According to Veeam’s 2022 Data Protection Trends report, 95% of companies had to use their backups after an attack. Immutability guarantees that these backups remain intact, allowing for a successful recovery.

4. Regularly Test Backups

It’s not enough to just have backups—they need to work when you need them. Regularly testing your backups by performing full restores ensures that they are not only functioning but also contain the necessary data for recovery.

Why it works: Ransomware can be particularly damaging if your backups are incomplete, corrupted, or otherwise unusable. Regular testing verifies the integrity and completeness of your backups, ensuring that your data is fully recoverable in the event of an attack. This proactive approach reduces downtime and ensures business continuity.

Stat Insight: According to a report by Spiceworks, 27% of organizations that experienced a ransomware attack were unable to fully restore their data due to ineffective or incomplete backups. Regular testing can help avoid this pitfall.

5. Segment Your Network

Network segmentation involves dividing your network into smaller, isolated segments, each with its own access controls. This limits the spread of ransomware within your network and ensures that even if one segment is compromised, others remain secure.

Why it works: Ransomware often spreads laterally across networks, seeking out vulnerable systems and data. By segmenting your network, you create barriers that contain the spread of ransomware, protecting critical systems and backups. This strategy significantly reduces the potential impact of an attack.

Stat Insight: According to IBM's 2023 Cost of a Data Breach report, organizations with segmented networks experienced 20% lower data breach costs, highlighting the effectiveness of this strategy in mitigating the financial impact of attacks.

6. Use Strong Authentication and Access Controls

Ransomware often gains entry to systems through compromised credentials. Implementing strong authentication measures, such as multi-factor authentication (MFA), and strict access controls can prevent unauthorized access to your backup and storage systems.

Why it works: By requiring multiple forms of authentication, MFA adds an additional layer of security that makes it much harder for attackers to gain access. Additionally, by enforcing the principle of least privilege—where users and applications only have the access they need—you minimize the potential damage if a breach does occur.

Stat Insight: The 2023 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report found that 61% of breaches involved credential data. Implementing MFA can block 99.9% of these unauthorized login attempts, significantly reducing the likelihood of a ransomware attack succeeding.

Conclusion

Ransomware-proofing your backups and storage is critical to safeguarding your organization's data. By implementing the 3-2-1 backup strategy, air-gapping, using immutable backups, regularly testing them, segmenting your network, and enforcing strong authentication, you create a robust defence that not only protects your data but ensures swift recovery in the event of an attack. As ransomware threats continue to evolve, these strategies provide a solid foundation for maintaining business continuity and minimizing the impact of any potential breach.