What Is Immutable Backup? [All You Need to Know]

PAGE CONTENT:

What Is Immutable Backup?
What Is the Difference Between Mutable Backup and Immutable Backup?
What Are the Benefits of Using Immutable Backup?

The term "immutable backup" refers to a particular kind of data backup in which the backed-up information cannot be altered in any way and cannot be removed. The data has become a rich target for attackers, and even your backups could be encrypted or deleted during an attack. When developing a backup or disaster recovery strategy, having data that cannot be changed is essential, especially if ransomware is used.

This blog article discusses immutable backups, the benefits of immutability, the many kinds of immutable repositories, and the different ways you should enhance your backup and recovery strategy.

what is immutable backup

What Is Immutable Backup?

A duplicate of a backup that cannot have its data changed, rewritten, or removed for a predetermined amount of time is called an immutable backup.

Since data is vital to all sorts of companies, having an immutable copy of your backups guarantees that there is an untampered duplicate of your critical data and is always accessible and protected from cyber threats such as ransomware, accidental/malicious deletion, human mistake, and more.

An immutable backup assures you that you will always have a backup copy that enables you to recover data and resume activities without interruptions, even if your primary copies are lost, damaged, or otherwise inaccessible.

What Is the Difference Between Mutable Backup and Immutable Backup?

Information stored in a format that allows for modification is called "mutable data." Changes to data are immediately reflected in the database by replacing the existing record. Unless there are backups and transaction logs that record changes, all prior versions of the data will be destroyed; on the other hand, immutable storage refers to data that, once saved, cannot be changed, relocated, or relocated removed.

The most important distinction between mutable and immutable backup is that the data stored by an immutable backup solution cannot be altered, deleted, or otherwise.

On the other hand, changeable backups may be easily encrypted, modified, or erased, frequently used by hackers seeking to extort a ransom payment. You leave yourself up to a wide variety of dangers when you use a backup that can be changed. There is no such thing as an immutable backup.

the difference between immutable and mutuable backup

What Are the Benefits of Using Immutable Backup?

The primary benefit of maintaining immutable backups is storing versions of critical data that are impervious to tampering, that cannot be accidentally altered, and that cannot be targeted by malicious actors or ransomware. Other advantages include resistance to tampering and resistance to accidental alteration.

Having stated that the following is a list of the primary benefits of immutability:

Security against ransomware While various procedures protect against ransomware; immutable backups are at the top of the list since they cannot be modified by malicious encryption.
Immutability protects your data from internal and external dangers, so even if a disgruntled former employee or an outsider is plotting to damage your firm, they won't be able to change the information.
Compliance with Regulations Businesses can meet stringent compliance standards if they keep an unmodified version of the data they collect and use. Certain sectors, such as governmental institutions or healthcare companies, must comply with long-term retention regulations and guarantee that their data and backups are real and have not been changed.

Conclusion

Since ransomware and other forms of cybercrime are growing more sophisticated with each passing day, it is becoming increasingly vital for organizations to discover innovative and imaginative ways to protect the data they store.

When you store backups offsite and in a condition that cannot be changed, you increase the likelihood that you will be able to recover your data if lost successfully. You can save backup copies locally on tape or transfer them to an immutable cloud storage service. Alternatively, you may preserve them in an immutable form on the cloud. Both choices make it impossible for users to alter or remove these backups.

FAQs

1. How long should backups be immutable?

You can establish immutability for a certain amount of time, such as two years, if you need a copy of your data that cannot be modified, changed, or deleted under any circumstances. When you have immutable backups, you provide security that is impregnable against any data damage, virus, and unintentional or purposeful destruction of data.

2. Can immutable backups be compromised?

You should ensure that your backup copies are protected by immutable technology to defend yourself against ransomware assaults. The files are immune to attempts to encrypt, destroy, or alter them in any other manner. Using immutable backups helps guarantee that data cannot be altered or deleted.

3. What makes a backup immutable?

Immutable is another word for unchangeable. A data protection method known as an immutable backup guarantees that the data it stores will never be corrupted, erased, encrypted, or altered. This kind of backup is also known as an immutable copy.