Immutable backup addresses the shortcomings of traditional backup by providing tamper-proof, ever-evolving methods that meet standard data protection requirements.
What Does Immutable Backup Mean?
An immutable backup solution’s data is tamper-proof, which means it cannot be rewritten, erased, or changed. Immutable backup saves data in a read-only format, which prevents write access and ensures data cannot be updated.
Immutable backups may be duplicated over numerous storage media and preserve several copies of data for auditing and version control. They might offer secure data protection via contemporary security mechanisms such as multi-factor authentication and encryption.
Also Read: Virtual Data Room for Businesses – Benefits & Cost
How Does Immutable Backup Work?
Immutable backup systems make a read-only duplicate of the data, preventing anybody from modifying or overwriting it. This is accomplished using encryption; users must be permitted and authenticated to access the data.
Immutable data is also compressed to decrease storage needs and allow for speedier recoveries.
Every event, such as backup generation or restoration from a backup, may be kept in a “block” cryptographically linked to a well-defined, sequential arrangement of blocks. This increases data authenticity, which is particularly important for in-house data recovery professionals.
Immutable backup systems also enable chain-of-custody monitoring by recording every data transaction and providing an audit trail that may aid in determining the source of any illegal alteration or breach. This adds another degree of defense against cybercriminals.
Different Types of Immutable Backup Solutions
The five most common types of immutable backup include:
Write Once, Read any (WORM)
WORM backup is a non-erasable backup solution that makes an immutable duplicate of your data. The information is written once to the backup disk, which might be a DVD, or CD, and then becomes read-only. WORM is primarily used for the long-term storage of sensitive data, such as medical, financial, legal, and regulatory records.
Continuous Data Protection (CDP)
CDP continually and consistently backs up data, allowing for granular restoration of data changes at any moment. Changes to data in the main storage are immediately replicated to backup storage, ensuring that the data is always accessible in the most current condition.
Time-based Snapshots
To take time-based pictures at predetermined intervals, a delta approach is employed. Each snapshot contains just the changes that have happened since the last backup. Time-based snapshots are appropriate for storage systems that are shared by a large number of virtual machines. Regular snapshots are taken to help with data restoration, with the most recent snapshots always accessible.
Versioned Backups
A versioned backup system enables multiple backups of the same data, guaranteeing that prior versions are retrievable and readable. It offers a change audit trail, enabling firms to compare and restore prior versions if necessary. This is typically used for sensitive corporate information such as financial records, source code, and software projects.
Cloud Storage-based Immutable Backup
Cloud immutable backup systems store data on distant servers, allowing access from anywhere. They provide a pay-as-you-go pricing model as well as comprehensive security features like encryption and multi-factor authentication, enabling businesses to scale up and down as their storage requirements vary.
Also Read: Protecting Your ERP System Against Ransomware Attacks
7 Benefits of Using Immutable Backup Solutions
Data storage on immutable infrastructure may be very beneficial to both businesses and people. Here are seven advantages that this backup system provides users:
1. Utilizes Read-Only Data Formats
Immutable data backups make use of storage types that are write-once-read-many. Your data is kept in an immutable format when you choose the read-only format. This indicates that changes or deletions are not permitted. Because information must be preserved in its original form, this option is ideal for storing highly confidential data.
2. Protection from Ransomware
When compared to other typical backups, immutable storage provides higher security. Ransomware attacks, which encrypt data and demand money to remove it, are rising. Because they cannot be updated or erased, immutable data backups render ransomware assaults pointless.
3. Safe Data Recovery
Storing your files in immutable formats ensures that you may retrieve them at any moment. You don’t have to be concerned about whether your backup program is functioning correctly since the file may be damaged or encrypted when you attempt to restore it.
4. Indelible Storage
Immutable backups are irreversible, so they can’t be deleted or changed. By using immutable storage and backup, you can preserve your data from being erased while still keeping it available and accessible whenever you need it. This backup ensures data safety by protecting it against unintentional deletions and alterations, which may easily result in data loss.
5. Maintains Data Accuracy
Immutable backups use the cryptographic hashing process to ensure the accuracy and validity of your data. Hashing protects data integrity by ensuring it has not been tampered with or modified. With this kind of backup, you can be convinced that your data has not been compromised, which ensures its security and validity.
6. Supports Testing/Development Environments
Immutable data storage is suitable for developing and testing settings. It enables the usage of data copies without additional arrangements, such as installing numerous volumes on a single system. Immutable backup copies cannot be altered; if checks fail, the document also fails. However, the process may be repeated with a different clone.
7. Fast Restoration
The incremental data recovery method is employed in traditional data backups. As a consequence, previous backups are progressively wiped out. In the event of data loss, you cannot recover previous file versions. This does not happen if you use immutable backups. We can restore all available versions for the latter since they are saved in separate places and remain unchanged throughout. You always have safe backups on hand in case anything goes wrong.
See Also: Free Google Drive Alternatives
Conclusion
Every company, big or small, needs a secure backup to function. However, with many new cyber risks, traditional data backups no longer ensure data protection. Immutable data backup technology comes in handy. Immutable backups outperform traditional backups in many ways. They are safe and dependable since they cannot be encrypted or manipulated.
Companies that employ immutable backups benefit from complete ransomware protection and rapid data recovery in the case of a loss. Immutable data backups are also more resistant to accidental deletions, data compromise, and corruption than traditional backups.
Businesses with sensitive data or those required to meet data storage regulations might use immutable technology to safeguard their data. If you still need to begin utilizing immutable storage and data backups, think about it and reap the advantages mentioned above.
