What Is Immutable Backup? The Last Line of Defense Against Ransomware
An immutable backup cannot be overwritten or deleted for a set time after creation. Ransomware cannot encrypt it. An attacker cannot delete it.
A backup copy that cannot be changed or deleted during its retention period.
Why Does It Matter?
In Sophos’s 2024 report, 94% of organizations hit by ransomware said attackers tried to reach their backups. 57% of those attempts succeeded. Organizations whose backups were compromised had much higher recovery costs.
Core Principles & How It Works
What Threats Arise from Inadequate Protection?
- ✕Exposing the backup store as a network share. Ransomware encrypts that share too.
- ✕Never testing a restore. A broken backup is found during the crisis.
How Does Moftgate Solve This Challenge?
Moftgate supports fast recovery after an attack with an immutable, WORM-locked backup approach. Device isolation limits the spread of the attack.
Related Guides and Articles
- Immutable (WORM) Backup Guide: 6 Steps to Ransomware-Ready Recovery →
How do you plan, build and verify an immutable backup? A step-by-step guide to the 3-2-1 rule, RPO/RTO targets, lock mode choice and restore testing.
- Attackers Now Target Your Backups: Why Immutable WORM Storage Matters →
Ransomware attackers look for backups before they encrypt. Why do ordinary network-share backups fail, and how does WORM-locked storage protect recovery after an attack?
- Ransomware in 2026: Evolving Tactics, Unchanging Defense Principles →
Adversaries now exfiltrate data before executing encryption. We analyze why defense-in-depth remains the only proven countermeasure.
Other Cybersecurity Terms
Full Glossary →A storage model where data is written once and cannot be changed or deleted for a set retention period.
A backup rule: keep 3 copies of data, on 2 different media, with 1 copy at a different location.
RPO is the acceptable amount of data loss in time. RTO is the maximum time accepted to restore a service.
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