Leveraging immutable and cross-cloud backups for protection and recovery

Preventing data compromise

News By Sebastian Straub published 25 September 2024

Ah, data—the lifeblood of the digital age. It's more precious than gold, rarer than a unicorn sighting, and, unfortunately, more vulnerable than a kitten in a room full of rocking chairs. You’ve probably heard the horror stories: ransomware attacks holding data hostage, entire infrastructures crippled, and panicked IT managers frantically Googling, “How to undo ransomware (preferably without tears).”

But fear not, dear reader! Enter the knight in shining armor: Immutable backups.

These digital fortresses are here to save your data from the clutches of cyber villains. Immutable backups are the ultimate security blanket, and today, we’ll dive into how they can keep your enterprise's data as safe as a secret cookie stash.

Sebastian Straub

Principal solutions architect at N2WS.

Immutable Backups: Your Data's Invincible Shield

Picture this: Your backups are safe, secure, and, best of all, untouchable. Immutable backups ensure that once your data is backed up, it cannot be altered or deleted. Not by you, not by cybercriminals, and definitely not by your overly curious intern who “accidentally” clicks on things.

Immutable means unchanging over time. This is like having a vault that even the craftiest thief can't crack. It’s the ultimate form of air-gapping—a method that makes your data as accessible to bad actors as the last season of Game of Thrones was to sense and logic. The immutable nature of these backups ensures that, even if your main environment is compromised, your backup remains pristine, unsullied, and ready to restore your operations to their former glory.

Before enabling immutable backups, it's important to confirm that the data being backed up is exactly what you need. Immutable backups are designed to be unalterable, for better or worse, meaning once they are set, you cannot modify, delete, or update them for the duration of the retention period. Therefore, carefully consider the retention period and ensure it aligns with your data retention policies and business requirements. This irreversible nature offers rock-solid protection against data tampering or accidental deletion, but it also means that any mistakes or unnecessary data included in the backup will remain fixed until the retention period expires. Plan carefully to avoid unintended consequences.

Cross-Cloud Backup: The Golden Standard

So, you’ve embraced immutable backups—great start! But what if you could take it up a notch? Imagine a scenario where your AWS data is safely backed up not just within AWS but in an entirely different cloud platform, say, Azure. Cross-cloud backup is the gold standard in air-gapping, providing an extra layer of security that makes hackers’ heads spin faster than a hamster on a wheel.

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