Securing Against Ransomware: The Imperative Role of Immutable Backup Storage in Today’s Cybersecurity Landscape
Ransomware poses a severe cybersecurity threat globally, leading to data loss with potentially irreversible consequences even if the ransom is paid.
Sterling Wilson, Data Resilience Strategist at Object First, emphasizes the critical importance of protecting data, considering it the lifeblood of organizations. The UK House of Commons/House of Lords Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy identifies ransomware as the top cyber threat to the UK due to its potential to bring the nation to a standstill.
The Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) underscores the broader impact of ransomware attacks beyond financial costs, including business interruption, privacy liability, and expenses related to incident response and crisis management. Lindy Cameron, CEO of the UK National Cyber Security Centre, highlights the devastating effects on organizations, affecting finances, customer data, operational delivery, trust, and reputation.
To counter these threats, experts recommend assuming a breach and implementing zero-trust principles. Object First addresses these challenges with its Ootbi, an out-of-the-box immutable backup storage appliance developed in collaboration with Veeam. Ootbi leverages Object Immutability and follows zero-trust security principles to protect data from cybercriminals.
Veeam’s 2023 Data Protection Trends Report reveals that 85% of global organizations experienced at least one cyberattack in the previous year, emphasizing the need for robust protection strategies. Recommendations include using immutable storage within disks, clouds, and air-gapped media, adopting hybrid IT architectures, and implementing staged restorations.
Object First’s Ootbi platform is exemplified in its deployment by Prodatix, a Veeam certified engineering company. Ootbi’s purpose-built design for Veeam ensures secure and seamless customer experiences. Prodatix emphasizes the simplicity, stability, and turn-key nature of Ootbi, providing a necessary component for data protection and recovery plans.
Looking ahead, experts caution about the potential rise of AI-generated attacks and impersonation threats, reinforcing the importance of keeping backup data on immutable on-premises storage appliances. Object First’s focus on maintaining root access security underscores the need for comprehensive measures to safeguard against evolving cyber threats.
