Glossary Terms
What are immutable backups?
An immutable backup is a backup of data that, when stored, can never be changed, removed, or edited by anyone. It is stored in the original version, ensuring that the backed-up data is forever sealed in its original form.
Once a backup is made immutable, it’s locked in place. Anyone, including admins can make no edits or deletions until the retention period ends. This is done using WORM technology: you write the data once, and after that, it’s untouchable—just read-only, no matter how many times you access it.
Many organizations store their immutable backups on various external storage devices, such as hard disk drives, cloud service providers, or specialized hardware designed for data addition without removal. This provides a reliable recovery point for businesses to return to normalcy when disaster strikes.
Why are immutable backups important?
Ransomware doesn’t just lock up your files and folders. It often targets the backups as well. And sometimes, it’s not even an attack. A simple mistake, a system glitch, or someone with excessive access can inadvertently delete backups. When disaster hits, you can’t just rely on backup.
Immutable backups change that.
They act like a locked vault. Once a backup is created, no one—not even admins—can alter or delete it during its set time. Not malware, not mistakes, not malicious insiders. It simply stays as it is.
This gives organizations a sense of security. Even if everything else fails, they know there’s a clean, untouched copy waiting. That reliability can make all the difference during recovery.
In industries with strict regulations, immutability plays another role. Some laws require businesses to store specific data for years, without any changes. Immutable backups help meet these requirements by preserving original records exactly as they were, ready for audits or legal purposes.
Benefits of immutable backups
Immutable backup ensures your data remains untouched and secure. But the benefits go beyond that. A few key reasons why it’s worth implementing include.
- Protects against cyber threats
An immutable backup prevents the attacker from altering the backup data. This is one of the most essential benefits of immutable backup. Even in the event of a ransomware attack and hackers attempt to take data hostage by encrypting it, immutable backups ensure that they have access to untampered data. So, you don’t pay the ransom.
- Ensures data integrity
Immutable backups help in maintaining the integrity of data because they cannot be tampered with. This is important for compliance, audits, and maintaining digital archiving.
- Eases disaster recovery
Immutable backups provide a reliable starting point for data recovery in the event of a technical fault, accidental deletion, or cyber threats. This helps avoid longer downtime, minimize delays, and maintain continued business.
- Meets regulatory and legal demands
Few industries, such as finance and healthcare, have strict rules regarding record maintenance and audits. Immutable backups are well-equipped with features that help meet such challenges as they enforce original data retention.
- Reduces human error
Immutable backups help reduce human error or rage deletion by acting as a strict defense.
- Improves stakeholder trust
When it comes to data security, clients, customers, and partners consistently seek assurance and reliability. Using immutable backups strengthens trust because it demonstrates a commitment to data protection and reliability.
Cons of Immutable Backups
- Higher storage requirements
Because immutable backups cannot be altered or deleted during their retention period, organizations must keep all versions of the backed-up data. This can mean higher storage needs and, as a result, greater costs. If unnecessary files are backed up by mistake, they cannot be removed until the retention window ends.
- Less flexibility
In an immutable backup, it’s hard to adapt to changes that happen in the business. This is because the data remains locked as per the limits of the data retention period. So, it can neither be changed nor deleted.
- Management challenges
Admin needs to decide carefully about the duration of the immutable backup. If retention policies are set too long, they can impact storage costs, and if they are too short, important data can become vulnerable soon. So, balancing the retention period is important.
- Complexity in implementation
Adding immutable backup systems to an existing technology environment requires planning. You need to check for complications to ensure that backup software, storage devices, and other components follow a well-planned procedure.
- Potential for long-term retention costs
Companies incur extra costs over time by keeping a large volume of unchanged data for years. This is especially right for companies with frequent backups that retain data for longer.
Best practices for immutable backup implementation
- Start with clear retention policies
Before making data immutable, organizations should decide on reasonable retention periods. Think about legal requirements, internal business needs, and the potential for data growth. Creating policies helps avoid making mistakes when choosing how long data should remain locked.
- Use modern storage solutions
Choose storage that supports WORM functionality or cloud services with built-in immutability. Many cloud vendors and hardware makers now offer options that let you specify how long backups must remain unchanged.
- Layer security
Do not rely only on immutability. Use strong user access controls, encrypt data in storage and transit, and apply activity logging for all backup operations. Layering protection methods keeps backup data even safer.
- Test recovery frequently
Backups are helpful only if they work when called upon. Regularly test the backup and recovery process. Ensure that immutable backups can be restored and include everything needed to resume operations after a crisis.
- Separate backups from main systems
Store immutable backups apart from primary systems. Keeping backups isolated from the normal network reduces the danger of both cyberattacks and accidental access.
- Update procedures as threats evolve
Data security threats change over time. Regularly review backup policies, storage technology, and industry trends. Stay updated on the latest backup tools and methods, and be ready to adjust retention periods and storage choices as needed.
- Train staff
All employees who deal with backups should understand how immutable backups work and why they are important. From IT administrators to compliance managers, everyone should know their role in protecting and recovering vital data.
- Monitor storage usage
Since storing backups for long periods can mean using up lots of space, monitor storage levels often. Remove or archive backups when their retention period ends, and make adjustments to storage strategies as organizations grow or change.
- Document everything
Keep detailed records about when backups are created, what they contain, and the exact retention period set for each one. Clear documentation helps in audits, troubleshooting, and future data recoveries.
Related Glossaries
CrashPlan provides cyber-ready data resilience and governance in a single platform for organizations whose ideas power their revenue. With its comprehensive backup and recovery capabilities for data stored on servers, on endpoint devices, and in SaaS applications, CrashPlan’s solutions are trusted by entrepreneurs, professionals, and businesses of all sizes worldwide. From ransomware recovery and breaches to migrations and legal holds, CrashPlan’s suite of products ensures the safety and compliance of your data without disruption.
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