Data is one of the most important assets or corporate resources for a company. In all critical business processes, data is the core that keeps daily operations running and maintains business continuity. Without the availability of data, business operations can quickly come to a standstill. As a result, companies may face revenue losses and reputational damage. In the worst case scenario, the company's very existence may be at risk.
Therefore, it is crucial for every company to integrate a backup and data security strategy into their overall security strategy. Cybercriminals have one primary goal when conducting hacking attacks – to steal as much data from a company’s systems as possible and/or encrypt it, forcing the victim to pay a ransom to regain access to readable, unencrypted data. This highlights not only that data is one of the most important resources within a company but also that it represents a significant potential target for cyberattacks.
To protect against ransomware attacks, it is essential to implement appropriate security measures as part of the IT security strategy. These include the use of next-generation antivirus software or endpoint detection and response (EDR) systems, which use machine learning to continuously scan the network for current threats and analyze the behavior of potential malicious activities, as well as regular backups.
Backups are crucial in case of data loss, which can be caused not only by cyberattacks but also by hardware failures, theft, natural disasters, software errors, or human error (such as accidentally deleting important data). Backups allow businesses to restore data quickly and thus maintain operations during an incident.
When designing a backup strategy, several points should be considered. The implementation depends on a corresponding risk assessment that reveals the damage that could occur if the data is no longer available.
It is advisable to store backup data on different media, with at least one off-site backup stored at a secure external location, such as a data center. This offers enhanced protection through access control, fire protection, emergency power supply, and redundant internet connections.
To ensure faster data recovery, an additional backup should be stored locally on a device at the company’s location, allowing data to be restored more quickly thanks to higher download speeds.
In addition to selecting the appropriate storage location, the retention period for the backup should also be carefully considered. It should be long enough to ensure data recovery when needed. Considering the risk of ransomware and so-called "time bombs"—malicious code that may remain dormant for months before activation—a retention period of 12 months is recommended. This ensures that even encrypted and compromised backup data can be restored months after a cyberattack.
Initially, all business-critical data should be secured through a full backup. For daily automated backups, an incremental backup system is recommended, which only saves changes since the last full backup. Incremental backups are especially efficient and resource-saving.
Backup data should be encrypted at the storage location and protected by appropriate access controls, such as two-factor authentication, ensuring that only authorized personnel can access it.
As important as the correct initial setup is regular monitoring. Modern backup software sends alerts and status reports in case of failed backups. These reports should be checked and reviewed daily.
Additionally, the backup files should be restored regularly in test environments to verify the functionality of the backup. This ensures that data will indeed be available in an emergency.
