Using Air-Gapped Recovery Systems To Be More Cyber Secure

How Zerto's Cyber Resilience Vault can help businesses protect and recover their data from ransomware and other cyber threats. 

Cybersecurity is not just a concern, it's a pressing issue for businesses of all sizes and industries. The recent surge in ransomware attacks, a type of malware that encrypts data and demands a ransom for its release, has escalated the threat. Shockingly, 76 percent of organizations have resorted to paying ransoms, and data exfiltration has increased from 46 to 64 percent from 2022-2023, underscoring the clear and present danger of ransomware (SecurityWeek).  

While traditional backup methods like antivirus software, firewalls, and backups can help prevent and mitigate ransomware attacks, they are not foolproof. Some ransomware variants can even target backup systems, rendering them ineffective. This underscores the need for a robust and reliable recovery system that can ensure data integrity and availability even in the worst-case scenario. 

One of the most effective ways to achieve this is by using an air-gapped recovery system. An air-gapped recovery system is physically or logically isolated from other networks and systems, preventing unauthorized access or tampering. Air-gapped recovery systems can provide a last line of defense against ransomware and other cyber threats, enabling businesses to restore their data from a secure and uncorrupted source. 

In this blog, we will discuss the importance of air-gapped recovery systems and how Zerto's Cyber Resilience Vault can help businesses implement such systems with ease and efficiency. 

What is an Air-Gapped Recovery System, and Why is it Important? 

An air-gapped recovery system stores a copy of the data in a separate and isolated environment, such as a different network, location, or device. The term "air-gapped" refers to the lack of direct connection or communication between the recovery system and the primary system, creating a physical or logical gap that prevents any data transfer or interference. 

The primary purpose of an air-gapped recovery system is to provide a secure and reliable backup of the data in case the primary system is compromised by ransomware or other cyber threats. By having an air-gapped recovery system, businesses can ensure that they have a clean and uninfected copy of their data, which they can use to restore their operations and avoid paying the ransom. 

An air-gapped recovery system is essential for several reasons: 

• It can prevent ransomware from spreading to the backup data, as the systems have no connection or access. 
• It can protect the backup data from deletion or modification, as there is no way for the attacker to reach or manipulate the data. 
• It can enable faster and easier recovery, as there is no need to scan or decrypt the data or deal with any potential malware or encryption keys. 
• It can reduce the risk of data loss, as there is a higher chance of having a recent and complete copy of the data compared to other backup methods that may have gaps or inconsistencies. 
• It can enhance compliance and security, as there is less data exposure and vulnerability and more control and auditability of the recovery process. 

How Zerto's Cyber Resilience Vault Can Help Businesses Implement Air-Gapped Recovery Systems 

Zerto is a leading cloud data management and protection solutions provider, offering a platform that enables continuous availability, workload mobility, and multi-cloud agility. Zerto's platform leverages Continuous Data Protection (CDP) technology, which captures and replicates every change in the data in real time, creating a continuous journal of data history that can be accessed and restored at any time. 

Zerto's Cyber Resilience Vault is a solution that builds on CDP technology and provides organizations with a comprehensive and scalable air-gapped recovery system. The Zerto Cyber Resilience Vault is designed to provide robust protection against ransomware and other cyber threats, ensuring organizations can recover from such attacks quickly and securely. It integrates several advanced features to enhance cyber resilience: 

• Rapid Air-Gapped Recovery: The Cyber Resilience Vault employs a zero-trust architecture that isolates the vault from other networks, ensuring that data is securely air-gapped. This separation helps prevent ransomware from accessing the data, even if the primary and initial recovery environments are compromised. 
• Real-Time Encryption Detection: The vault includes capabilities for real-time detection of encryption anomalies, which allows it to identify potential ransomware activity quickly. This feature ensures that any suspicious changes are caught almost immediately, providing an early warning system that can significantly reduce the impact of an attack. 
• Near-Synchronous Replication and Continuous Data Protection (CDP): Zerto's vault uses near-synchronous data replication to protect data continuously, ensuring minimal data loss in the event of an attack. This replication also supports rapid recovery, enabling organizations to restore their operations to a state just seconds before an attack. 
• Decentralized and Customizable: The Cyber Resilience Vault's decentralized zero-trust architecture allows for greater flexibility in its deployment and management, supporting customization according to specific business needs and environments. It can integrate with various cloud services and backup solutions, enhancing its effectiveness and adaptability. 
• Secure and Compliant Hardware: The vault is powered by a secure and compliant hardware appliance, which provides a hardened and encrypted storage environment for the data. The appliance also supports encryption at rest and in transit and various compliance standards and regulations. 

Conclusion 

In order to be more cyber secure, businesses need a strong and reliable recovery system in place. This system can safeguard their data against sophisticated cyber-attacks and enable them to resume their operations as quickly and smoothly as possible. Air-gapped recovery systems are one of the most effective ways to achieve this, as they provide a secure and isolated backup of the data, preventing ransomware from accessing or corrupting it. 

Zerto's Cyber Resilience Vault is a solution that can help businesses implement air-gapped recovery systems with ease and efficiency. It leverages Zerto's Continuous Data Protection technology and a zero-trust architecture. The vault offers several benefits for businesses, such as rapid air-gapped recovery, real-time encryption detection, near-synchronous replication, decentralized and customizable deployment, and secure and compliant hardware. 

If you are interested in learning more about Zerto's Cyber Resilience Vault or want to request a demo, contact your VLCM representative, and be sure to visit the Zerto booth and Breakout Talk Panel at VLCM IT eXchange on May 1, 2024! To learn more and register for this free industry event, please visit www.vlcm.com/ITX.