How Ransomware Targets Backups and How to Safeguard Them
Once considered the ultimate fail-safe, backup systems are now a high-value target for cybercriminals. Compromising backups denies organizations their best recovery option, forcing many to consider paying the ransom. This post explains why backups are the primary target for ransomware and offers actionable strategies to defend them.
Why Backups Are the Main Target for Ransomware
Modern ransomware schemes go beyond encrypting primary systems. Attackers actively seek out and compromise backup repositories, leaving victims without recovery options. Disabling or corrupting backups forces organizations into a difficult position: pay the ransom or lose critical data.
Backups are targeted because they represent the difference between an organization bouncing back or succumbing to operational collapse. Attackers know that many companies rely heavily on backups to avoid paying the ransom, making them a vulnerability that can be exploited for financial gain.
The Consequences of Compromised Backups
The ripple effects of compromised backups extend far beyond technical recovery.
- Permanent data loss. Without recoverable backups, organizations risk losing crucial intellectual property, customer records and operational data. For instance, businesses that rely on software configurations or unique datasets may face irreparable damage if backups are encrypted or destroyed. Recreating this data is often impossible or prohibitively expensive.
- Extended downtime. Downtime interrupts operations, annoys customers and damages trust. For any business, losing access to backups could lead to prolonged service disruptions, financial losses and a tarnished reputation. In critical fields like healthcare, delays can even put lives at risk.
- Ransom payments. Ransom demands have surged, with averages exceeding $5 million in 2024. Cornered by the lack of viable recovery options, many organizations succumb to these demands. Paying a ransom not only funds further criminal activities but also provides no guarantee that the attackers will restore the encrypted or won’t strike again.
These cascading effects underscore the necessity of robust backup strategies beyond just storing data to ensure its accessibility and integrity during a disaster.
Exploiting backup weaknesses
Cybercriminals are experts in finding and exploiting weak points in backup plans. Some common vulnerabilities include:
- Weak network segmentation. Backups stored on the same network as production systems are highly vulnerable. This configuration allows ransomware to spread easily and corrupt backups alongside operational data.
- Outdated security measures. Attackers frequently exploit unpatched software, outdated hardware and lax access controls, which open the door to unauthorized access.
- Human error. Misconfigurations, neglected updates and poor oversight create opportunities for exploitation. For example, failing to monitor backup logs or enforce password policies can leave systems exposed.
Beyond technical vulnerabilities, procedural gaps can also be a liability. Inconsistent backup schedules or reliance on legacy storage solutions increase the likelihood of backups being rendered useless during an attack.
Key Threats to Backup Systems in Ransomware Attacks
Attacking n-site backups
On-premises backups are often tightly integrated with operational networks. While this setup streamlines processes, it also makes backups vulnerable to lateral attacks. Once ransomware infiltrates the network, it can spread to shared storage systems, corrupting or deleting backups.
Attackers exploit the reliance on local infrastructure, knowing that most organizations don’t adequately isolate their backups. A compromised backup server could mean the loss of months or even years of critical data.
Ransomware in the cloud
The increasing adoption of cloud solutions has created a false sense of security for many organizations. While the cloud provides offsite redundancy, attackers have adapted their methods to target these environments specifically and are broadly leveraging automation and synchronization to amplify their reach. Here are several methods to compromise cloud-stored data:
- Credential theft. Stolen login details allow unauthorized access to cloud systems.
- Malicious syncing. Infected local files can overwrite clean cloud backups during automated synchronization.
- API exploits. Vulnerabilities in cloud service interfaces enable attackers to modify or delete backup data.
How to Strengthen Backup Systems Against Ransomware
Anti-ransomware backups require a comprehensive, multi-layered approach. Here are the best practices to consider:
Immutability, air-gapping and versioning
- Immutability. Use a backup storage that prevents changes or deletions for a specified retention period. Immutable backups ensure data integrity and are often the last line of defense against ransomware.
- Air-gapping. Physically or logically separate backups from production environments to block unauthorized access. This can involve using tape drives or dedicated isolated servers.
- Versioning. Maintain multiple versions of backups to ensure clean copies are available, even if recent versions are compromised. Regularly review and archive older versions to guard against delayed ransomware detections.
Backup encryption and authentication
- Encryption. Protect backup data at all stages to prevent unauthorized access.
- Strong authentication. Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) and role-based access controls to limit who can interact with backup systems. Authentication measures are critical in preventing brute-force attacks on backup environments.
Diversifying backup locations
To avoid a single point of failure, distribute your backups across multiple environments — on-premises, offsite and in the cloud. This approach boosts redundancy and ensures business continuity. It is also a good idea to spread backups across different geographic locations to minimize the impact of localized cyberattacks or natural disasters.
Regular backup testing
Frequent testing validates the integrity of backups and ensures recovery processes function as expected. Addressing vulnerabilities uncovered during tests can mitigate future risks. Simulation exercises involving ransomware scenarios can also prepare organizations for real-world scenarios.
Automating backup processes
Automating backups minimizes human error and ensures consistency. Beyond scheduling and execution, modern backup systems now integrate antivirus scanning and threat detection directly into the backup workflow. By scanning data for malware and ransomware signatures before it’s restored, these solutions help prevent infected files from being preserved in backup sets. Advanced solutions can also detect anomalies, flagging unusual patterns or suspicious file changes as early warnings for potential ransomware threats. Automation also allows for faster, cleaner recovery, a crucial factor in minimizing downtime and damage during a ransomware incident.
Building a culture of cyber resilience
Protecting backups from ransomware is not solely a technical challenge since it also requires a shift in organizational mindset. Cybersecurity training, regular audits and clear interdepartmental communication are all crucial. Everyone needs to know their role in keeping critical data safe. When you implement backup protection strategies into your overall business continuity plans, you create a safety net that makes recovery possible, even in challenging situations.
How NAKIVO Can Help Protect Backups from Ransomware
NAKIVO Backup & Replication offers a multi-faceted approach to ransomware resilience, combining advanced technology and flexibility to secure data in diverse environments. Below are some of its key capabilities:
- Immutable backups. Leverage the WORM (Write Once, Read Many) technology to create backups that cannot be modified or deleted for a predefined period. These immutable backups are available for both local and cloud environments, including Amazon S3, Azure Blob, and Wasabi Hot Cloud, among others.
- Hardened backup repositories. NAKIVO’s hardened Linux-based repositories provide an extra layer of protection by restricting even root-level access to modify or delete backups. This ensures critical data remains safe from unauthorized changes.
- Ransomware detection. Employ anomaly detection algorithms that monitor backup activity and flag unusual behaviors indicative of ransomware attacks. Early detection enables swift isolation of affected systems.
- Air-gapped solutions. Store backups on air-gapped media, such as tape drives or detachable NAS devices to ensure physical separation from operational networks and reduce exposure to ransomware.
- Backup to cloud integration. NAKIVO supports cloud redundancy with seamless integrations with S3-compatible storage platforms. Features like Object Lock further enhance protection by ensuring backups remain immutable.
- Efficient storage management. Built-in deduplication and compression optimize storage use, reducing costs without compromising security. This is particularly beneficial for large enterprises managing extensive datasets.
- Rapid recovery options. NAKIVO’s Instant Recovery feature ensures minimal downtime, enabling businesses to recover entire systems or individual files within minutes.
- Federated repositories for scalability. NAKIVO’s federated repository system allows organizations to seamlessly scale their backup environments by consolidating multiple repositories into a unified pool. This facilitates efficient resource allocation and uninterrupted backup processes.
- Support for multi-platform environments. NAKIVO supports virtual, physical NAS, SaaS and cloud platforms, including VMware, Hyper-V, Proxmox VE, Nutanix AHV, and Oracle Database. Its cross-platform capabilities ensure comprehensive protection across diverse IT infrastructures.
These features of NAKIVO Backup & Replication ensure that businesses of all sizes benefit from fast, secure and cost-effective backup solutions.
Conclusion
Ransomware’s latest target is backup systems, which is a big wake-up call. Businesses that take security seriously are doing more than just protecting their data — they are also building trust with customers and stakeholders. Ensuring ransomware resilience can be a major asset for your organization. Using a dedicated data protection solution like NAKIVO Backup & Replication can minimize the threat of ransomware for businesses in all industries.
