Protecting your business's backup files from ransomware is crucial because these backups are your last line of defence if your main data is locked or corrupted by an attack. Ransomware is malicious software that can encrypt your files and demand payment to unlock them. If your backups are also compromised, you risk losing critical business information permanently, leading to costly downtime and damaged customer trust.
Why this matters for Australian SMBs
For small and mid-sized Australian businesses, downtime caused by ransomware can mean lost sales, disrupted operations, and a hit to your reputation. Without secure backups, recovery can be slow or impossible, increasing the risk of extended outages. Additionally, regulatory expectations around data privacy and security mean that losing customer data can have compliance implications.
A typical scenario
Consider a 50-person Australian accounting firm that stores client files on a local server. One day, ransomware infects the server, encrypting all files. The firm attempts to restore from backups, only to find those backups were connected to the same network and also encrypted. Without clean backups, the firm faces weeks of downtime, lost billable hours, and the challenge of rebuilding client trust. A managed IT provider who had implemented offsite, isolated backups with strict access controls could have helped avoid this scenario by ensuring backups were untouched by the ransomware.
Practical steps to protect your backups
- Ask your IT provider: Are backups stored offline or offsite, isolated from your main network? How often are backups tested for integrity and restorability?
- Check backup access controls: Who can access and modify backup files? Limit access to essential personnel only, with strong authentication methods.
- Use versioning and retention policies: Ensure backups keep multiple historical versions to recover from ransomware-encrypted files.
- Implement the 3-2-1 backup rule: Keep at least three copies of your data, on two different media types, with one copy stored offsite or in the cloud.
- Review your backup encryption: Backups should be encrypted both at rest and in transit to prevent interception or tampering.
- Regularly update and patch systems: Vulnerabilities in software can allow ransomware to spread to backups; keep all systems current.
- Test your disaster recovery plan: Schedule regular drills to ensure you can restore data quickly and effectively if needed.
Common pitfalls to avoid
Many businesses mistakenly rely on backups connected to the same network or device, making them vulnerable to ransomware spread. Others fail to restrict access or neglect to test backups regularly, only discovering problems when it's too late. Avoid these by implementing layered protections and working with an IT partner experienced in backup and disaster recovery.
In summary, safeguarding your backups from ransomware requires a combination of proper storage strategies, access controls, regular testing, and clear recovery plans. Speaking with a trusted managed IT provider or IT advisor can help you assess your current backup setup and implement practical protections tailored to your business needs.