When businesses think about ransomware or cyberattacks, they often focus on protecting their primary systems. But hackers are one step ahead—they’re going after your backups first. Why? Because if they can take out your safety net, you have no choice but to pay up.
Let’s break down why backup systems are a prime target for cybercriminals and, more importantly, how to stop them.
Why Hackers Attack Backups First
1️⃣ To Maximize Ransomware Leverage
Attackers know that if you have a clean backup, you can recover without paying a ransom. By encrypting or deleting your backups first, they force you into a tough decision: pay or lose everything.
2️⃣ Backups Are Often Poorly Secured
Many businesses don’t protect backups as tightly as primary systems—leaving them open to attack. Weak credentials, lack of segmentation, and outdated security practices make them an easy target.
3️⃣ Backups Can Be Used to Exfiltrate Data
Backup repositories often store large amounts of sensitive data in one place. If hackers breach them, they don’t just delete files—they steal them, threatening to leak the data unless a ransom is paid.
How Hackers Infiltrate Backup Systems
🚨 Credential Theft & Privilege Escalation – Attackers use stolen admin credentials to access backup management consoles and wipe or encrypt stored data.
🚨 Ransomware with Backup Deletion Features – Modern ransomware doesn’t just lock files—it actively seeks out and destroys backups before launching the main attack.
🚨 Compromised Cloud Backup Services – Poorly secured cloud backup storage allows attackers to access and delete entire archives remotely.
🚨 Disrupting Backup Schedules – Attackers manipulate or disable backup processes so businesses unknowingly operate without viable recovery points.
How to Protect Your Backups from Cyberattacks
✅ Use Immutable Backups
Enable immutable storage, which prevents backup files from being altered or deleted for a fixed period—even by administrators.
✅ Air-Gap Critical Backups
Store a copy of your backups completely offline (air-gapped), making it unreachable by attackers who breach your network.
✅ Restrict Access to Backup Systems
Enforce least privilege access—only essential personnel should have permissions to modify or delete backups.
✅ Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for Backup Admins
Require MFA for access to backup management consoles to prevent unauthorized deletion.
✅ Regularly Test Your Backups
A backup is useless if it’s corrupted or incomplete. Conduct recovery tests frequently to ensure backups work when you need them.
Final Thoughts
Cybercriminals aren’t just locking files—they’re wiping out any chance of recovery before launching an attack. Protecting backups is no longer optional—it’s essential.
A strong backup security strategy ensures that even if hackers breach your systems, your business stays in control. Because in cybersecurity, the best way to fight back is to always have a way forward.
