Everything you need to know about immutable backups

Are you facing cyberattacks, particularly ransomware? As a business, it's essential to rethink your data protection strategies to anticipate unforeseen events. In this context, immutable backups emerge as a reliable solution. What are they, and what exactly do they entail? Here's everything you need to know about this concept.

What is an immutable backup?

An immutable backup is simply a copy of your data . However, it cannot be modified or deleted for a defined period. Unlike traditional backups, it allows you to preserve your information intact for an extended period. It proves to be an effective solution against:

• human errors;
• cyberattacks;
• attempts at deliberate deletion.

In technical terms, this backup solution is based on the Write Once, Read Many (WORM) principle . Indeed, once data is written, it can only be read until the defined retention period expires. This provides a legal and technical guarantee of data preservation .

Why adopt immutable backups?

There are a thousand and one reasons to integrate immutable backup into your IT infrastructure .

Better protection against ransomware

Depending on their intentions, cybercriminals can encrypt or destroy your backups to prevent any restoration . Immutability allows you to have incorruptible even if the production environment is compromised. You can then quickly restore the system in the event of an attack.

Compliance with requirements

Many sectors are required to strictly adhere to data retention regulations compliance with these standards by preventing any unauthorized alteration.

Reducing human error

In the course of their duties, employees may accidentally delete or modify data . Immutable backups allow you to significantly limit these incidents, which have negligible consequences. They also guarantee business continuity in the event of a cyberattack.

How do I set up an immutable backup?

Implementing this IT solution involves several steps. The first is defining the retention period, that is, the length of time the data must remain locked. This varies depending on the nature of the information and legal requirements. In the medical or banking sectors, retention can last several years.

Secondly, you must integrate immutability into your overall backup strategy. In reality, it shouldn't simply replace other protection principles. For example, you can add it to the 3-2-1 rule (3 copies, on 2 different media, one of which is stored off-site) as an additional layer of security.

The next step is to automate the processes using modern solutions. The goal is to program immutability at the time the backup is created. This way, IT teams avoid any manual manipulation that could compromise security.

Finally, perform regular restore tests to ensure the system's continued effectiveness. Make sure that recovery times are always compatible with the company's needs.