The Tool Desk
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Ransomware commonly searches for connected backup shares, cloud credentials and management consoles before encrypting production data. A backup that is online, writable and controlled by the same credentials as your servers may be destroyed along with the originals. The comparison below focuses on the controls that determine whether a backup remains usable during an attack.
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What ransomware-resistant backup software must do
Ransomware protection is a system design, not a checkbox. The software must preserve multiple recovery points and make at least one copy difficult or impossible for an attacker to alter. It must also let you identify a clean restore point and recover the workloads that matter within an acceptable time.
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| Capability | What to verify | Why it matters during ransomware |
|---|---|---|
| Isolation | Offline, air-gapped, logically isolated or separately administered storage | Breaks the attacker’s path from an infected network to the backup copy |
| Immutability | Retention lock, WORM/Object Lock or a hardened repository; policy changes require separate authority | Prevents deletion or modification before the retention period expires |
| Encryption | Encryption in transit and at rest, with protected keys and a documented recovery process | Reduces exposure if storage or media is stolen or accessed directly |
| Point-in-time versions | Several restore points spanning the required retention window | Allows recovery from before the malware entered the environment |
| Restore verification | Automated boot or integrity checks, plus scheduled hands-on recovery drills | Shows that backup files are usable rather than merely present |
| Administrative security | MFA, least privilege, separate backup credentials, audit logs and deletion alerts | Limits an attacker who obtains a normal user or server account |
| Workload coverage | Endpoints, servers, virtual machines, SaaS, databases and configuration data that your recovery plan names | A protected file backup is not enough if the application or identity system is missing |
| Recovery objectives | Achievable recovery point objective (RPO) and recovery time objective (RTO) | Converts a backup schedule into a measurable business outcome |
| Operating cost | Storage growth, retention duration, egress or recovery fees, administration and support | A design that cannot be operated or funded will eventually lose its protections |
Can ransomware delete your backups?
Yes, when the backups are reachable with credentials or network access that the malware can use. An infected workstation may reach a mapped backup share. A compromised administrator may sign in to a backup console and delete jobs, shorten retention or remove cloud objects. A continuously attached USB drive can be encrypted as if it were another disk.
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- Back up smarter with included device management software[2] with defense against ransomware
- Help secure your important files with password protection and hardware encryption
- 3-year limited warranty
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) advises organizations to maintain offline, encrypted backups and regularly test their availability and integrity. It specifically warns that ransomware may search for accessible backups and delete or encrypt them. CISA also recommends that backup data be immutable and cover the organization’s entire data infrastructure.
Immutability is a retention control, not the same thing as being offline. A retention-locked object can resist deletion while remaining online, but an attacker could still disrupt the backup service, steal credentials, erase the configuration needed to restore, or encrypt production systems. Conversely, an offline disk is separated from the network but can be changed or destroyed when it is connected. A resilient design uses both properties.
Controls that block common attack paths
- Network reach: keep at least one current copy disconnected or in an isolated recovery environment.
- Credential abuse: use separate backup identities, MFA and least-privilege roles; do not reuse domain administrator credentials.
- Retention tampering: enforce a retention lock or WORM policy that operators cannot shorten casually.
- Silent corruption: retain multiple points in time and scan or inspect data before restoring it.
- Management loss: protect backup configuration, encryption keys, licensing information and recovery documentation separately from the production domain.
Immutability, offline copies and air gaps explained
Immutable retention
Veeam describes immutable data as data that cannot be deleted until its expiration date. Acronis similarly states that its immutable storage prevents restore points from being deleted or modified during the retention period. The exact enforcement mechanism varies, so check whether the lock applies to every repository, every workload and every copy, and who can change the policy.
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Offline and air-gapped copies
An offline copy has no active connection to the systems an attacker is likely to control. An air-gapped copy is separated by a stronger physical or logical boundary and is made available only for controlled backup or recovery operations. A logically isolated cloud account or repository can reduce exposure, but it still depends on the isolation design, identity provider and administrative procedures.
Rank #2
- Slim durable design to help take your important files with you
- Back up smarter with included device management software[2] with defense against ransomware
- Help secure your important files with password protection and hardware encryption
- 3-year limited warranty
CISA recommends disconnecting an external drive when it is not actively backing up. The drive should be encrypted, labeled, stored securely and rotated so that a recent copy is available without leaving every copy attached at once. The drive is a component of a policy, not a substitute for backup software, retention rules or restore testing.
WORM and Object Lock storage
Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage documents Object Lock as a write-once, read-many (WORM) model that prevents deletion during a customer-defined retention period. It also documents server-side encryption with managed keys or customer-managed keys. Used as a target for backup software, Object Lock can supply the immutable cloud layer; it does not by itself select restore points, protect application configuration or perform recovery orchestration.
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The following are different parts of a ransomware-resistant design, so they should not be treated as interchangeable products. Confirm the edition, deployment model and supported workloads before purchasing.
| Option | Documented protection | What it contributes | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veeam Backup & Replication | Immutable repositories, hardened repositories and guidance to keep an immutable, air-gapped or offline copy | Backup orchestration plus SureBackup recoverability verification for supported environments | Design the repository, credentials and recovery network separately; features vary by edition and workload |
| Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage | Object Lock WORM retention and managed-key or customer-managed-key encryption | An immutable cloud storage target within a backup architecture | It is storage, not a complete backup application; a separate product must create and manage backups |
| Acronis immutable storage | Restore points cannot be deleted or modified until retention expires | Retention-protected recovery points in the Acronis backup ecosystem | Confirm the exact edition and hosting arrangement before relying on the control |
| Encrypted external USB hard drive | Offline separation when disconnected and physically controlled | A low-complexity offline copy that can be rotated between drives | Disconnect after backup; it does not provide centralized policy, monitoring or automated restore verification by itself |
How to compare backup software step by step
- List every recovery workload. Record endpoints, physical and virtual servers, databases, SaaS data, identity services, network configurations and any “golden images” of critical systems. CISA recommends maintaining and regularly updating golden images so a system can be rebuilt rather than merely having its files copied.
- Set RPO and RTO by workload. RPO is the maximum acceptable amount of data loss, measured in time. RTO is the maximum acceptable restoration time. A transaction database may need frequent capture and rapid recovery, while an archive may tolerate a longer interval. Reject products that advertise a schedule but cannot meet the objective in your environment.
- Map the copy locations. Identify which copy is online, which is logically isolated, which is immutable and which is physically offline. Document the network path and the credentials used for each. If all copies share one administrator account or one directory, they do not provide independent protection.
- Inspect retention enforcement. Ask whether the lock is WORM-based, repository-based or application-based; whether it covers metadata and configuration; whether an administrator can shorten it; and what happens when the retention period expires. Test deletion and policy-change attempts with a non-production job.
- Check encryption and key recovery. Verify encryption in transit and at rest, key ownership, rotation, backup of key material and the procedure for restoring when the normal identity system is unavailable. Customer-managed keys can improve control but also create a recovery dependency if the keys are lost.
- Review identity and audit controls. Require MFA for consoles and storage, separate backup credentials from production administrators, role-based permissions, immutable or exportable audit logs, and alerts for deletion, retention changes, failed jobs and unusual download activity.
- Test clean recovery. Restore representative files, a complete server and a critical application into an isolated network. Verify that the restored system boots, that application data is consistent and that credentials and dependencies work. Record elapsed time against the RTO.
- Repeat the test on a schedule. A successful initial test does not prove that later backups are usable. Automate verification where the product supports it and perform a documented recovery drill after major configuration, software or workload changes.
Restore confidence: versions, verification and clean rooms
Choose the right point in time
Ransomware can remain dormant before encrypting files. The newest backup may contain encrypted or otherwise damaged data, so retain enough historical points to investigate and select a pre-compromise state. Version retention should cover the period in which an intrusion could plausibly go unnoticed, not just the period that is convenient for storage.
Automated verification
Automated verification can boot a protected virtual machine, check services and report whether the expected system responds. Veeam’s SureBackup is an example of this recoverability-verification approach. Verification is stronger when it runs in an isolated network and checks application behavior rather than merely confirming that a backup file exists.
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Manual recovery drills
At least periodically, restore a complete service using only the documented procedure, the protected credentials and the available keys. Time each dependency: repository access, catalog recovery, operating-system boot, database consistency, DNS, identity and application validation. A drill often exposes missing configuration or a key stored only on the production file server.
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Isolation models and their trade-offs
| Model | Strength | Operational burden | Best use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Disconnected removable media | Strong separation while not connected | Manual rotation, physical handling and careful labeling | Offline copy for small environments or as an additional recovery layer |
| Hardened repository | Designed to restrict deletion and malware-driven changes while online | Requires dedicated host hardening, patching and privileged access controls | Frequent backups that must remain available for fast restores |
| Immutable cloud object storage | Retention lock and geographic or infrastructure separation | Requires cloud identity governance; recovery may incur data-transfer or egress charges | Scalable secondary copy managed by backup software |
| Air-gapped recovery environment | Separates restoration from the compromised production network | Requires standby capacity, procedures and periodic validation | Critical services where a clean-room recovery is necessary |
Coverage, administration and day-to-day operations
Workload coverage
Compare support for physical endpoints, virtual machines, file servers, databases, SaaS applications and configuration data. A product that protects documents but not the identity directory, hypervisor configuration or database transaction logs can leave the organization unable to resume operations. Check application-consistent snapshots where required and confirm whether the software preserves permissions, metadata and encryption settings.
Protected administration
Backup consoles are high-value targets. Place them on a management network, restrict interactive logins, require MFA and separate duties so that the person who operates backups cannot unilaterally remove retention locks. Forward audit records to a location that the backup administrator cannot edit, and alert on failed jobs, unusual deletion attempts, retention changes and sudden increases in protected data.
Storage growth and recovery charges
Estimate source-data growth, daily change rate, compression, deduplication, retention length and the number of copies before comparing prices. Cloud designs may add retrieval or egress charges when a large restore is needed. Include the cost of spare offline media, isolated recovery capacity, monitoring, support and staff time for testing. A low storage rate is not a low total cost if a full recovery is unaffordable.
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“The backup job succeeded, so we are protected.”
A successful copy operation says nothing about whether the restore point is clean or whether the application can start. Add automated verification and scheduled full recovery drills.
Rank #4
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- USB-C and USB 3.1 connectivity with included 2-in-1 cable The Facet ships with a USB-C to USB-C cable and tethered USB-A adapter, so this external hard drive connects to modern laptops, USB-C iPhones, tablets, and older USB-A computers without buying an extra cable. USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5Gbps) interface delivers real-world transfer speeds up to 100MB/s — fast enough to back up 50GB of files in about 8 minutes.
- Plug-and-play external hard drive for PC, Mac, and laptops Preformatted in exFAT and ready to use the moment you plug it in. The Facet works out of the box with Windows PCs, macOS Macs, MacBooks, Chromebooks, and laptops — no drivers, no software, no setup required. A true plug-and-play external hard drive built for everyday use across every major operating system.
- External hard drive for PS4, Xbox One, and Smart TV gaming The Facet is compatible with PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Smart TVs with USB support. PS4 and Xbox One games run directly from the drive — plug it in, format through the console, and add to your storage. Also works with Smart TVs that support USB recording or external media playback.
- Slim, shock-resistant portable external hard drive — 160g At 2.5 inches and just 160g, this portable external hard drive is bus-powered through a single USB-C cable — no separate power adapter, no extra cables. Slim enough for a laptop bag, jacket pocket, or camera bag, with a shockresistant casing and faceted diamond-texture top panel that resists fingerprints and everyday wear. Backed by a 1-year limited warranty from ModusTech, a consumer electronics brand specializing in external storage.
“We have an external drive connected all the time.”
Continuous connection removes the offline property. Disconnect the drive after the job, rotate multiple encrypted drives and document where the current copy is stored.
“The cloud copy is immutable, so administration is solved.”
Object Lock protects objects during retention, but stolen credentials can still disrupt jobs, keys or the storage account. Use separate identities, MFA, least privilege, audit logs and an independent recovery path.
“Retention is set, but nobody tested deletion.”
Perform a controlled test that attempts to delete a locked object and shorten its retention. Confirm the expected denial, record who can override policies and verify that the result appears in audit logs.
“Only user files are included.”
Expand the scope to systems and configuration required to operate the business, including golden images, identity services, databases and application dependencies.
“The newest restore point must be the safest.”
Investigate for dormant malware and retain older versions. Use an isolated analysis and recovery environment before reconnecting restored systems to production.
A practical selection framework
Use this order when comparing products or architectures:
- Eliminate designs without an immutable or offline copy. Online writable backups alone fail the basic ransomware test.
- Eliminate designs that share production credentials. Require MFA, separate identities and auditable role separation.
- Eliminate designs that cannot meet the stated RPO and RTO. Measure with representative data, not a vendor’s theoretical maximum.
- Eliminate designs that cannot restore the complete workload. Include applications, configuration and identity dependencies.
- Choose the design with the simplest repeatable testing process. A control that staff cannot operate will decay.
The National Cyber Security Centre’s ransomware-resistant backup guidance was published and reviewed on 22 November 2024. Its continued emphasis on isolation, integrity and recovery testing reflects the central buying lesson: judge software by the evidence you can verify in your own environment, not by the phrase “ransomware protection” on a product page.
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