Ransomware has evolved into a deceptive, highly tuned, dangerous and sophisticated threat that can be created by crippled organizations of all sizes. Cybercriminals are even using legitimate IT tools to infiltrate their networks and launch ransomware attacks. In a calm example, Microsoft recently revealed how threat actors misuse the rapid assisted remote assistance tool to deploy destructive black bust ransomware stocks. And what’s wrong? Innovations like Ransomware-as-a-Service (RAAS) have lowered the standards for entry, ensuring ransomware attacks are more frequent and widespread than ever before. By 2031, new ransomware attacks were expected every two seconds, reaching $275 billion per year, according to cybersecurity ventures.
There is no immunity to ransomware. Building a powerful recovery strategy is even less important than trying to prevent all attacks in the first place. When ransomware breaks through, a solid business continuity and disaster recovery (BCDR) strategy will become your last and most important line of defense. In particular, the cost of investment in BCDR is negligible compared to long-term downtime or devastation that can result from data loss.
In this article, we will analyze five important BCDR features that you should be erected to effectively recover from ransomware. These strategies mean the difference between a quick recovery after an attack and a business failure. Let’s explore what every organization has to do before it’s too late.
Follow the 3-2-1 (and some!) backup rules
The 3-2-1 backup rule has been the gold standard for a long time. Keep three copies of your data, store it on two different media, and keep one copy offsite. But in the age of ransomware, that’s no longer enough.
Experts currently recommend the 3-2-1-1-1-0 strategy. The extra 1 represents one immutable copy. This is a backup that cannot be modified or deleted. 0 represents zero doubt in its ability to recover along with the tested recovery points verified.
Why upgrade? Ransomware doesn’t just target production systems. We also actively search for and encrypt backups. Therefore, isolation, invariance and verification are important. Cloud-based and air-gap backup storage provide the essential layer of protection to keep backups out of reach from threats using stolen administrator credentials.
Having such an immutable backup will ensure that no recovery points are wasted no matter what. When everything else compromises, they are your safety net. Additionally, this level of data protection will help you meet your increased cyber insurance standards and compliance obligations.
Bonus Tips: Looking for solutions that provide a hardened Linux architecture, camouflage and separate backups outside the typical Windows attack surface.
Continuously automate and monitor backups
Automation is powerful, but without active monitoring it can be the biggest blind spot. Scheduled backup schedules to automate verification can save time, but it is also important to make sure these backups actually occur and are available.
Use built-in tools or custom scripts to monitor backup jobs, trigger failure alerts, and verify recovery points integrity. It’s easy. There is a risk of continuing to monitor or discovering that the backup was too late for you to have no back. Testing and verifying recovery points regularly is the only way to trust your recovery plan.
Bonus Tips: Select a solution to integrate with the Professional Services Automation (PSA) ticketing system to automatically raise backup hiccup alerts and tickets.
Protect your backup infrastructure from ransomware and internal threats
The backup infrastructure must be isolated, hardened and firmly controlled to prevent unauthorized access and tampering. you must:
- Lockdown your backup network environment.
- Hosts the backup server on a secure local area network (LAN) segment with no inbound internet access.
- Only authorized vendor networks allow outbound communications from backup servers. Use strict firewall rules to block all unauthorized outbound traffic.
- Allows communication between the protected system and the backup server.
- Enforce granular access control using firewalls and port-based access control lists (ACLS) on the network switch.
- Applying agent-level encryption ensures that your data is protected at rest and controls only using keys generated from the secure passphrase.
- Enforces strict access control and authentication.
- Implement role-based access control (RBAC) with minimal roles for Tier 1 technology.
- Verify Multifactor Authentication (MFA) for all access to the Backup Management Console.
- Continuously monitor the audit log for privilege escalations or incorrect role changes.
- Make sure the audit log is immutable.
Please review regularly:
- Security-related events such as failed logins, privilege escalation, backup deletion, and device deletion.
- Manage actions such as changing backup schedules, changing retention settings, creating new users, changing user roles, and more.
- Backup and backup copy (replication) success/fail rate and backup verification success/fail rate.
- Pay attention to serious risks.
- Configures automatic alerts for policy violations and high-strength security events, such as unauthorized changes to backup retention policies.
Restore tests regularly and include them in your DR plan
A backup means nothing if you can’t restore quickly and completely. Therefore, regular testing is essential. Recovery drills must be scheduled and integrated into disaster recovery (DR) plans. The goal is to build muscle memory, reveal weaknesses, and make sure the recovery plan actually works under pressure.
Start by defining the recovery time target (RTO) and recovery point target (RPO) for all systems. These determine how fast and recent needs are recoverable data. Testing against these goals will help ensure that your strategy aligns with business expectations.
Importantly, do not limit your tests to one type of restoration. Simulate file-level recovery, full bare metal restore, and full-scale cloud failover. Each scenario reveals a variety of vulnerabilities, including time latency, compatibility issues, and infrastructure gaps.
Also, recovery is more than a technical task. Involve stakeholders across the department to test communication protocols, role responsibilities and customer impact. Who talks to the client? Who causes an internal chain of commands? When counting every second, everyone needs to know their role.
Early detection of threats with backup-level visibility
When it comes to ransomware, detection speed is everything. While endpoints and network tools are often spotlighted, the backup layer is powerful and is also a often overlooked line of defense. Monitoring anomaly backup data reveals early signs of ransomware activity and provides a critical head start before extensive damage occurs.
Backup-level visibility can be used to detect telltale signs such as sudden encryption, mass deletions, and abnormal file changes. For example, if a process starts overwriting the contents of a file with random data, leaving all the modified timestamps intact, it is the main red flag. There is no legitimate program that works that way. Smart detection in the backup layer allows you to catch these behaviors and alert you immediately.
This feature does not replace endpoint detection and response (EDR) or antivirus (AV) solutions. It supercharges them. It helps speed up triage, isolate compromised systems faster, and reduce the overall blast radius of the attack.
For maximum impact, choose a backup solution that supports real-time anomaly detection and integration with Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) or centralized logging systems. The faster the threat, the faster you can act. That can be the difference between mild confusion and major disasters.
Bonus Tip: Train your end users to recognize and report suspicious activities early
If BCDR is the last line of defense, the end user is the first. Cybercriminals are increasingly targeting today’s end users. According to Microsoft Digital Defense Report 2024, threat actors are trying to access user credentials in a variety of ways, including phishing, malware, and brute-force/password spray attacks. Last year, around 7,000 password attacks were blocked per second with Entra ID alone.
In fact, ransomware attacks often start with just one click, usually via phishing emails or credential breach. Regular security training, especially simulated phishing exercises, can help you build awareness of red flags and dangerous behaviors. Equip your team with the knowledge to find ransomware warning signs, recognize dangerous data practices and respond appropriately.
Encourage immediate reporting of what appears to be off. It promotes a culture of enablement, not responsibility. When people feel safe to speak up, they are more likely to take action. You can also do it further by launching internal programs that reward vigilance, such as the Cybersecurity Hero Initiative.
Final thoughts
Ransomware doesn’t have to be afraid of. That needs to be planned. The five BCDR features discussed above can withstand even the most advanced ransomware threats, allowing your organization to recover quickly, fully and confidently.
To implement these strategies seamlessly, consider Datto BCDR, an integrated platform that integrates all of these features. It is built to help you stay resilient no matter what happens. Don’t wait for ransom notes to discover that your backup is not enough. We explore ways that Datt can enhance ransomware resilience. Get custom Dut BCDR pricing now.
