Evolving Ransomware Threats: Why Offline Storage is Essential for Modern Data Protection

Ransomware attacks have become increasingly sophisticated over the years to keep ahead of evolving cybersecurity strategies, and with the advent of AI, these attacks are only becoming more effective.

According to the latest State of Ransomware report from Sophos, over half of organizations (59%) experienced an attack in the last year. Of these, 63% received a ransom demand for $1 million or more.

The use of ransomware as a preferred cyber-attack method isn’t groundbreaking or new, but the advanced techniques used to execute these types of attacks are. These types of attacks have risen 18% over just the past year – a staggering number that’s only set to rise.

To combat rising ransomware threats, organizations will need to take a multi-faceted approach to defense that includes implementing secure storage and backup strategies designed with cybersecurity top of mind.

It’s as Easy as 1-2-3… or 3-2-2-1-0

Most organizations are already familiar with the “3-2-1 rule” of data backup, which states that enterprises should hold three copies of their data on two different types of media, with one copy held offsite to maximize protection.

However, as ransomware and other types of cyberattacks continue to spike, organizations have recognized the importance of holding onto a fourth copy of their data. Because of this, the 3-2-1 rule has been updated to reflect the realities of today’s expanded threat landscape.

Related:How To Optimize Your Data Center Against Ransomware Attacks

The modernized version of the 3-2-1 rule is called the “3-2-1-1-0 rule,” which stipulates that organizations should now hold at least three copies of data in addition to the original data, while continuing to use two different backup media types. These could include disk, tape, cloud storage, or solid-state drives (SSDs). Further, one copy still needs to be held offsite, and one copy should be kept completely offline.

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, it must be ensured that the original backup contains zero errors – something that is vital for confirming that the correct, original data restores properly.

Offline Storage as the Anchor

Even AI-powered storage technologies, no matter how advanced they are, will continue to be vulnerable to the evolving methods cyber-attackers are using (after all, attackers can leverage AI to their advantage as well). This is part of the reason why offline storage is critical – organizations need to ensure a physical separation from the broader digital landscape.

Since offline storage isn’t physically connected to an organization’s network, it’s isolated from the “cyber” part of cyber-attacks, meaning that essential data backup remains inaccessible to cybercriminals. This strategy is known as “air gapping,” which gives organizations more control over the security of their data.

Related:Rackspace Ransomware Costs Soar to Nearly $12m

Tape technology is the standard offline backup method for large organizations, as it is particularly ideal for air-gapped strategies because backup data is stored on physical cartridges that are then further physically stored either in a tape library or offsite vaulting service. This creates an actual, physical air gap between the data and the network, ensuring cyber-attackers are kept away from it.

There is also the offsite object storage option, which offers an alternative way to facilitate a physical air gap while speeding up recovery times. However, unlike tape-based solutions, they do require a network connection to facilitate data ingestion and will thus require additional safeguards to ensure true isolation.

The Necessity of the Offline Option

In addition to providing air-gapped backup protection against breaches, offline storage offers a number of other valuable benefits. For instance, these solutions can mitigate the impact of a complete network failure due to events like hardware issues or weather emergencies, ensuring that business is able to proceed as usual with as little disruption as possible.

Related:Primary Storage Cyber Protection Solutions That Thwart Ransomware Attacks

Read more of the latest data storage news

When stored offline or in a physical location, data is also much easier to monitor and manage. Unlike data that’s spread across different servers and networks, offline data makes it simple for organizations to deliver information updates, changes, and deletions. This also makes data much easier to recover, as there’s no guarantee that data stored in the cloud will be able to be fully recovered after a catastrophic event.

Additionally, increasingly sophisticated cyber-attacks may even render data unusable. However, if an organization’s offline storage solution is effectively managed on a continuous basis, this risk can be mitigated, and organizations can rest assured that their data will always remain accessible and intact.

Securing the Future

In a world where ransomware threats continue to evolve, organizations must stay ahead of the curve by implementing robust, multi-layered defense strategies.

The rise of AI-powered cyberattacks only amplifies the need for comprehensive solutions that are a step above, like the 3-2-1-1-0 rule, with offline storage playing a crucial role.

By integrating offline backups and air-gapped systems, companies can ensure their critical data is both protected and recoverable – even in the face of sophisticated cyberattacks or unforeseen disasters. Ultimately, a proactive approach to ransomware defense, rooted in strong storage and backup practices, is key to safeguarding organizations today and in the future.