How to Create Encrypted and Immutable Storage for Backup Protection

Learn how to create encrypted and immutable storage for your backup data to protect it from ransomware attacks and ensure data recovery.

Ransomware is a type of malicious software that encrypts your data and demands a ransom for its decryption. Ransomware can also target your backup data, making it impossible to restore your files in case of an attack. To prevent this, you need to create encrypted and immutable storage for your backup data, which means that your data cannot be modified or deleted by anyone, including hackers. In this article, we will explain how to create encrypted and immutable storage for your backup data using different methods and technologies.

What is Encrypted and Immutable Storage?

Encrypted and immutable storage is a type of storage that secures your data by using encryption and immutability. Encryption is the process of transforming your data into an unreadable format using a secret key. Only those who have the key can decrypt and access your data. Immutability is the property of data that prevents it from being changed or deleted. Usually, immutable data has a fixed retention period, after which it can be deleted permanently.

Encrypted and immutable storage can protect your backup data from ransomware attacks in two ways:

• It prevents hackers from accessing your backup data, even if they compromise your network or storage account. Without the encryption key, they cannot read or modify your data.
• It prevents hackers from deleting your backup data, even if they have access to your storage account. With immutability, they cannot erase your data before the retention period expires.

How to Create Encrypted and Immutable Storage?

There are different ways to create encrypted and immutable storage for your backup data, depending on your backup solution and storage provider. Here are some of the common methods and technologies you can use:

Method 1: WORM Media

WORM stands for Write Once Read Many, and it refers to a type of media that allows you to write data only once and read it many times. WORM media ensures data immutability by physically preventing data from being overwritten or erased. Examples of WORM media include optical discs, magnetic tapes, and hard drives. WORM media can also be encrypted using software or hardware encryption methods.

To use WORM media for your backup data, you need to have a compatible backup software and hardware device. You also need to configure your backup policies and retention settings according to your data protection requirements.

Method 2: Object Storage

Object storage is a type of cloud storage that stores data as objects, which are collections of data and metadata. Object storage allows you to store large amounts of data in a scalable and cost-effective way. Object storage also supports data encryption and immutability features, which can be enabled using different methods, such as:

• Server-side encryption: This is the process of encrypting your data at the storage provider’s side, using a key that is managed by the provider or by you. Server-side encryption can protect your data from unauthorized access, but not from deletion.
• Client-side encryption: This is the process of encrypting your data at your side, using a key that is managed by you or by a third-party service. Client-side encryption can protect your data from both unauthorized access and deletion, but it requires more resources and complexity.
• Bucket-level immutability: This is the process of setting an immutability policy for a bucket, which is a container for your objects. Bucket-level immutability can prevent your objects from being modified or deleted for a specified period of time, regardless of the encryption method.
• Object-level immutability: This is the process of setting an immutability flag for an individual object, which overrides the bucket-level policy. Object-level immutability can prevent your object from being modified or deleted for a specified period of time, regardless of the encryption method.

To use object storage for your backup data, you need to have a compatible backup software and a cloud storage account. You also need to configure your encryption and immutability settings according to your data protection requirements.

Method 3: Vendor-Specific or Vendor-Created Immutability

Some backup and storage vendors offer their own solutions for creating encrypted and immutable storage for your backup data. These solutions may use proprietary technologies or protocols to ensure data security and integrity. Examples of these solutions include:

• Azure Backup: This is a cloud-based backup service that allows you to back up your data from various sources, such as virtual machines, databases, files, and applications. Azure Backup supports data encryption and immutability features, such as:
  • Soft delete: This is a feature that protects your backup data from accidental or malicious deletion for 14 days by default, allowing you to recover it before it is permanently lost.
  • Multi-user authorization: This is a feature that requires multiple users to approve critical operations on your backup data, such as disabling soft delete, deleting backups, or reducing retention periods.
  • Immutable storage: This is a feature that allows you to store your backup data in an immutable storage account, which prevents your data from being modified or deleted for a specified period of time.

  To use Azure Backup for your backup data, you need to have an Azure subscription and a Recovery Services vault. You also need to configure your backup policies and settings according to your data protection requirements.

• Veritas NetBackup: This is an enterprise-level backup software that allows you to back up your data from various sources, such as virtual machines, databases, files, and applications. Veritas NetBackup supports data encryption and immutability features, such as:
  • Encryption: This is a feature that allows you to encrypt your backup data using various methods, such as software encryption, hardware encryption, or cloud encryption.
  • Immutability: This is a feature that allows you to store your backup data in an immutable storage device, such as a WORM device, an object storage device, or a vendor-specific device.

  To use Veritas NetBackup for your backup data, you need to have a Veritas license and a backup server. You also need to configure your backup policies and settings according to your data protection requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Question: What is the difference between encryption and immutability?

Answer: Encryption is the process of transforming your data into an unreadable format using a secret key. Immutability is the property of data that prevents it from being changed or deleted. Encryption and immutability are complementary features that can protect your backup data from ransomware attacks.

Question: How can I test if my backup data is encrypted and immutable?

Answer: You can test if your backup data is encrypted and immutable by trying to access, modify, or delete your backup data using different methods, such as:

• Using a different encryption key or no encryption key
• Using a different user account or role
• Using a different backup software or device
• Using a different storage account or device
• Using a different time period or retention policy

If you cannot access, modify, or delete your backup data using any of these methods, it means that your backup data is encrypted and immutable.

QuestionHow can I recover my backup data if I lose the encryption key or the immutability period expires?

Answer: If you lose the encryption key or the immutability period expires, you may not be able to recover your backup data. Therefore, it is important to:

• Store your encryption key in a secure and accessible location, such as a password manager, a key vault, or a physical device.
• Set your immutability period according to your data recovery requirements, such as the frequency of backup, the retention policy, or the compliance regulations.
• Monitor your backup data and alerts regularly, and take action if you notice any issues or anomalies.

Summary

In this article, we have explained how to create encrypted and immutable storage for your backup data to protect it from ransomware attacks and ensure data recovery. We have discussed different methods and technologies to create encrypted and immutable storage, such as WORM media, object storage, and vendor-specific or vendor-created immutability. We have also answered some frequently asked questions about encrypted and immutable storage. We hope that this article has helped you understand how to create encrypted and immutable storage for your backup data and how to use it effectively.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Please consult your backup and storage provider for specific guidance and support.