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Apr
16

Data backup alone isn't enough. You also need data protection.


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Data backup has been a must-have since the invention of floppy disks. Data loss can occur due to viruses, hard drive crashes and other mishaps; almost everyone who uses any technology has experienced some level of data loss at some point.


Each week in America, an estimated 140,000 hard drives crash. 20% of Small and Medium-Sized Businesses experience data loss every five years due to major disasters; this has spurred the growth of the cloud backup market which continues to expand.


Security has become one of the most crucial elements in data backup over recent years. Simply backing up data is no longer enough; data protection must now extend beyond simply backing up.


What Does this Mean?



Backups require stronger cybersecurity protection to remain vulnerable to threats such as supply chain attacks and sleeper ransomware. Cloud-based backup offers the advantages of accessibility, efficiency, and convenience whereas online backups have their own security issues.


Companies must consider data protection when crafting their backup or recovery strategy. Equipped with the correct tools, businesses can safeguard themselves against increasingly sophisticated threats.


Here are some of the latest threats to data backups:



  • Data Center Outage: Cloud data is stored on a server that can be accessed remotely via the internet. Unfortunately, these servers could crash at any time; outages also happen in data centers hosting these servers.

  • Sleeper Ransomware Once activated, this type of ransomware remains silent. Its aim is to infect all backups of a device and disable its ability to restore a backup.

  • Supply Chain Attacks : Supply chain attacks are on the rise. This includes attacks against cloud vendors used by companies, leaving those vendors vulnerable to cyberattacks which may spread to their clients.

  • Misconfiguration A misconfiguration of security settings can lead to a vulnerability, giving attackers access to cloud storage services and giving them the power to download or delete files as desired.


What to Look For in a Data Protection Backup System



Backups alone aren't enough. It's essential that the software you select provides adequate data security. Here are the top factors to consider when searching for an adequate backup solution.


Ransomware Prevention



Ransomware can infect all data on a network, from servers and computers to mobile devices and cloud platforms that sync with them. This includes sensitive information from these platforms as well as any cloud services used in conjunction with these devices.


Ransomware attacks that infect data backup systems account for 95% of all attacks.


Ransomware protection should be an integral part of any data backup system you utilize. This feature limits the number of file modifications that can be made to documents by blocking them from being automated.


Continuous Data Protection



Continuous data protection allows users to make changes and back up files on demand, unlike systems which perform regular backups like once a day.


Continuous data protection guarantees that files are always backed up, protecting against data loss in case the system crashes before the next backup. With today's rapid rate of data generation, it could be possible to lose an entire day's worth of information without this safeguard.


Threat Identification



Data protection should include proactive steps to safeguard files. Look for threat identification features within backup services - these are types of malware and virus prevention tools.


It scans for malware in both new and existing backups, helping to prevent sleeper ransomware or similar attacks from infecting any of your backups.


Zero-Trust Techniques



Cybersecurity professionals advocate for zero-trust security measures, such as multi-factor authentication and application safetylisting.


Zero-trust implies that all users and applications must undergo regular authentication. Simply because a user logs in does not guarantee they can be trusted completely.


When researching zero-trust features, one should look for:



  • Multi-factor authentication

  • Different permissions for different files and folders.

  • Contextual Authentication

  • Verifying File Permissions


Backup Redundancy



Backing up to a CD or USB drive only creates one copy of the files; anything that happens to this copy could result in data loss. Backup copies should always remain intact for disaster-proofing purposes.


Backup redundancy should be a standard feature of cloud backup providers. This ensures your data is mirrored to another server on the holding server, protecting it in case of server failure, natural disaster or cyberattack.


Air Gapping for Sensitive Data



Air gapping refers to a system that keeps an offline backup copy of your data or separates it in another way. To do this, make another backup copy and transfer it onto another server that's disconnected from external sources.


If your business involves sensitive data, this feature is something worth considering. With it, you can ensure at least one copy of your backup is always accessible and protected from internet-based attacks.


Are you in need of assistance with data protection and secure backup?



Are you up-to-date on the latest threats, as well as reviewing your backup processes? Contact us today to discuss data security and backup solutions!


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