Picture this: Your business comes to a standstill because scammers have locked your essential files and are demanding payment to unlock them.

This situation is known as a ransomware attack, and it poses an increasing risk to businesses globally.

Ransomware is a type of cyber assault where criminals infiltrate your systems and encrypt your data, rendering it inaccessible. They then ask for payment, often in cryptocurrency, to provide the key needed to regain access.

Even if you pay the ransom, there’s no certainty that you will recover your data. That’s why having a reliable backup system is one of the best ways to protect yourself.

Backups are duplicates of your critical files and systems, stored separately from your primary network. If something goes awry—whether due to a ransomware attack or an accidental deletion—you can use your backup tools to restore your data and keep your business operational.

Having backups is crucial for companies of all sizes. However, there’s a catch: Not all backup systems are equally effective. Recent studies indicate that many businesses are relying on outdated backup technologies, leaving them vulnerable even when they believe they’re secure.

Older backup systems aren’t built to withstand today’s advanced ransomware threats, exposing businesses in three key areas:

1. Backup data becomes a target
Ransomware criminals are becoming increasingly clever. They recognise that backups are your last line of defence and aim straight for them. If your backup system isn’t equipped to guard against these attacks, you could lose your safety net when you need it most.

2. Absence of encryption
Encryption scrambles your data so that only authorised individuals can access it. Without this protection, scammers can manipulate your backup data. Alarmingly, nearly one-third of businesses report that their backup data lacks encryption.

3. Backup failures
Restoring lost data with older systems can be challenging, and this is often where they fail. Imagine discovering that your backup didn’t function just as you’re trying to recover from an attack. This can lead to prolonged downtimes and costly recovery efforts that many businesses can’t afford.

So, how can you defend yourself against ransomware threats?

Reevaluate your backup strategy. Modern solutions like immutable storage are specifically designed to offer robust protection against ransomware attacks. Immutable storage ensures that your backup data cannot be altered or deleted under any circumstances.

This technology operates on the Zero Trust security model, which assumes that nothing and no one can be trusted. Each access request is verified, and permissions are tightly controlled, keeping your vital business data secure even if an attacker breaches your system.

Ransomware attacks are not going away; in fact, they are becoming more sophisticated and frequent. It’s essential to ensure that your backup system is strong.

Unsure where to begin? That’s what we specialise in. Get in touch.