When it comes to ransomware, the conversation has moved well beyond basic prevention. Attackers have become more sophisticated, and their tactics now routinely target backups and cloud environments. If you’re relying on traditional snapshot or version-based backups, you may be in for a nasty surprise when an attack hits. That’s why immutable backups have emerged as the gold standard for ransomware resilience.
Real-world incidents and data consistently show that immutable storage is the difference between fast recovery and total loss. For MSPs, enterprises, and IT departments, the ability to guarantee backup integrity is essential for a robust business continuity plan. So, let’s take a closer look at why immutability is the gold standard for ransomware-proof backups.
The Ransomware Isn’t Just Encryption - It’s Backup Destruction
It’s well established that ransomware encrypts data to extort businesses, but what’s less discussed is how attackers now target backups first. If they wipe out your last resort, you’re left with two options: pay up or start from scratch. A 2023 report by Veeam identified that 93% of ransomware incidents involve direct attacks on backup systems, and in 75% of cases, those attacks succeed in corrupting or deleting backup data (1).
Once attackers gain access to the business’s network, they exploit vulnerabilities in connected backup storage, deleting backups, and even use built-in backup management tools to erase protected copies. Some of the more sophisticated ransomware strains will also disable or tamper with cloud-based versioning, leaving businesses with no viable recovery options.
Cloud Backups Aren’t Automatically Ransomware-Proof
Many businesses assume that using cloud-based backup solutions like Google Drive, OneDrive, or SharePoint protects them from ransomware. In reality, synchronization mechanisms can be a liability rather than an asset. If ransomware encrypts files on an endpoint, those changes get synced to the cloud, effectively replacing good data with encrypted versions.
Security researchers have demonstrated how attackers can manipulate OneDrive’s API to encrypt and then permanently delete files, bypassing the usual rollback and recovery mechanisms (2). Microsoft and some other cloud providers do offer recovery tools, but they have limitations. The version histories are often time-limited, and admin-level access can be exploited to purge and remove old copies. When ransomware meets cloud sync, the result can be just as damaging as if it were a local network attack.
Immutability: A Backup That Can’t Be Tampered With
This is where immutable storage changes the game. Immutability ensures that once data is written, it cannot be modified, deleted, or re-encrypted for a specified period. Even administrators and, more importantly, attackers using compromised admin credentials cannot alter or remove the immutable backups. This is achieved through retention holds and immutability policies at the object storage level, ensuring ransomware cannot make any unauthorized changes.
When an immutable backup is in place, ransomware can still encrypt live data, but recovery becomes a simple matter of rolling back to the last untouched backup copy. Businesses with immutable storage in place have recovered from ransomware in hours rather than weeks, avoiding ransom payments entirely.
Why Object Storage is the Best Fit for Immutable Backups
While some file and block storage systems offer immutability options, object storage is the perfect fit for this use case. Modern object storage solutions, especially those with S3-compatible APIs, offer built-in immutability features like:
Object Lock – Ensures that stored objects cannot be deleted or altered until a predefined retention period expires.
Versioning – Keeps multiple versions of files, allowing organizations to roll back to a clean state even if new versions are affected by ransomware.
Retention Policies – Automatically enforce data retention rules to meet compliance and security requirements.
Unlike traditional file-based systems, object storage is designed for scalability and resilience, making it an ideal foundation for long-term, ransomware-proof backups.
Implementing Immutability in Your Backup Strategy
For businesses looking to integrate immutable storage into their backup plans, the key is to ensure at least one copy of your backups is immutable and air-gapped from your primary data. Here’s how:
Use Object Storage with Immutability – Choose a storage solution that supports immutability policies, such as AWS S3, Azure Blob, or an on-premises object store with retention locks.
Set Appropriate Retention Policies – Ensure that backups remain locked for an adequate duration to protect against delayed ransomware attacks.
Regularly Test Recovery from Immutable Backups – An immutable backup is only useful if you can successfully restore from it. Conduct regular disaster recovery tests to ensure your backups are working as intended.
Closing Thoughts: Ransomware-Proof Your Backup Strategy
Ransomware attacks aren’t slowing down, and relying on traditional backups without immutability is no longer a viable strategy. Attackers know how to target backup systems, erase snapshots, and even bypass cloud security measures. Immutable storage is the single most effective way to ensure you always have a clean, recoverable copy of your data, no matter how advanced an attack may be.
For MSPs, enterprises, and IT departments, implementing immutable backups isn’t just about compliance or best practices, it’s about survival. The businesses that get this right will avoid the ransom, recover faster, and stay operational while others scramble to pick up the pieces.
If your backup strategy doesn’t include immutable storage yet, now is the time to fix that.
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