Backups enable recovery from ransomware, hardware failures, and disasters. Yet many organisations treat backup security as an afterthought. Attackers increasingly target backups, knowing that destroyed backups force ransom payments.
Backup access controls determine who can delete or modify backups. Administrative accounts with unrestricted backup access create single points of failure. Separate credentials for backup operations, multi-person authorisation for deletions, and monitoring of backup modifications all protect backup integrity.
Encryption protects backup confidentiality. Backups contain complete copies of production data. Stolen unencrypted backups leak sensitive information without any obvious breach indicators. Encryption renders stolen backups useless without keys.
Air-gapped backups provide ransomware protection. Backups accessible from production networks can be encrypted by ransomware. Physical or logical air gaps prevent ransomware from reaching backups. Tape systems, disconnected storage, and write-once media all enable air-gapped backups. Comprehensive internal network penetration testing should specifically test whether backups remain accessible after simulated ransomware attacks.
Testing validates that backups actually work. Untested backups provide false confidence. Regular restoration tests verify backups are complete, uncorrupted, and contain expected data. Documented restoration procedures ensure successful recovery during actual incidents.
William Fieldhouse, Director of Aardwolf Security Ltd, explains: “Backup security determines whether organisations survive catastrophic incidents. Ransomware attacks increasingly target backups specifically. Without secure, isolated backups, organisations face impossible choices between paying ransoms or accepting data loss.”
Backup retention policies balance recovery needs with storage costs. Short retention enables attackers who compromise backups during dwell time. Long retention increases storage costs. Risk-based retention policies balance these factors.
Monitoring detects unauthorised backup access or manipulation. Alerts on backup deletions, access from unusual locations, or configuration changes enable rapid response before damage completes. Integration with SIEM centralises backup security monitoring.
Backup validation beyond simple restoration tests checks backup content integrity. Comparing backup contents to known good states detects subtle corruption or tampering. Automated validation catches issues before they affect recovery.
Offsite storage protects against physical disasters. Keeping all backups in single locations creates risks. Fire, flood, or other disasters that destroy production systems also destroy collocated backups. Geographic distribution provides resilience.
Immutable backups prevent deletion or modification. Write-once storage, object lock features in cloud storage, and tape systems all create immutable backups. Even with administrative credentials, attackers cannot delete immutable backups within retention periods. Working with the best penetration testing company includes testing backup security and restoration procedures during incident simulations.
Key management for encrypted backups requires careful planning. Lost encryption keys mean lost data, regardless of backup integrity. Key backup, escrow, and recovery procedures balance security with recoverability.
