Backups: Your Safety Net Against Ransomware and Data Loss

Backups are the unsung heroes of cybersecurity. Too often, businesses invest heavily in firewalls, EDR tools, and patching—but overlook their backup strategy. That’s a mistake. Backups may not prevent an attack, but they do determine how quickly and effectively you recover.

As Sean Mack, CIO and CISO, and founder of ISMG’s CXO Advisory practice explains:

“They’re not going to be an effective deterrent or preventative measure, but they’re essential to recover from ransomware or accidental data loss.”

This is especially true with today’s ransomware landscape. Hackers don’t just lock you out of your systems—they steal, encrypt, and even target your backups. Without a robust backup and recovery plan, businesses are left with little choice but to pay the ransom.

Mack recalls a recent client case:

“We actually recently had a client who was breached, and the breach was pretty severe. They managed to take over some high-level administrative accounts, but the impact was minimal because they had accurate data and they were able to restore.”

That restoration ability turned a potentially devastating breach into a minor setback. This real-world example highlights why backups are more than just an IT task—they are the foundation of business resilience.

In ransomware recovery, speed matters. The faster you can restore, the less downtime, lost revenue, and reputational damage your company suffers. A well-executed backup plan transforms a cyberattack from a crisis into an inconvenience.

Simply “having” backups doesn’t guarantee safety. Too often, organizations discover too late that their backups are incomplete, outdated, or corrupted. Worse, many backups are online and accessible—making them easy targets for ransomware actors.

As Mack warns:

“Just backing up isn’t enough, right? You need to make sure the backups are stored securely. You need to have them offline or in the cloud with proper controls. You want to make sure they’re immutable.”

Immutable backups—copies that cannot be modified or deleted—are a game-changer. They prevent attackers from wiping out your last line of defense. But immutability is only half the battle. Without regular recovery testing, backups are just theory, not reality.

The cost of failed backups is staggering. Beyond ransom payments, businesses face lost productivity, compliance fines, and long-term reputational damage. In fact, the average ransomware recovery cost now exceeds millions of dollars.

Mack puts it bluntly:

“Without the backups, recovery can be slow, costly, and maybe even impossible. Ultimately, you’re going to end up paying the ransom or having severe impact to your business.”

This risk extends to insurance coverage, too. Cyber insurers increasingly demand proof of secure, immutable, and tested backups. Companies without them may face higher premiums—or be denied coverage entirely.

A modern backup strategy requires more than nightly jobs and cloud storage. It requires:

• Secure storage: Backups should be offline or in the cloud with strict access controls.
• Immutability: Data should be unalterable to resist ransomware tampering.
• Testing: Regular restore exercises to validate data integrity and speed.
• Automation: Backup processes that eliminate human error and ensure consistency.

Leaders should treat backup validation like fire drills. Simulating recovery under realistic conditions ensures that when ransomware strikes, teams aren’t improvising—they’re executing a rehearsed plan.

Backups won’t stop ransomware from breaching your perimeter. But they are the safety net that determines whether your business bends or breaks under pressure.

• Store backups securely—offline or with hardened cloud protections.
• Make them immutable to prevent attacker interference.
• Test your backups and recovery process regularly.
• Treat backups as business-critical, not just IT housekeeping.

In a world where ransomware is inevitable, the organizations that thrive aren’t the ones that never get hit—they’re the ones that can always recover.

Watch the ISMG.Studio interview: Cybersecurity Checklist Every Small Business Should Follow.