What is an Immutable Backup?
And... why it matters more than ever in the age of ransomware!
Backing up your data is essential. But not all backups are created equal. In today’s threat landscape, traditional backups can still leave you exposed.
That’s where immutable backups come in.
Traditional Backups Can Be a False Sense of Security
Most companies use automated scripts or cloud snapshots to create backups. While these methods do offer protection, they also carry a major risk: the backups can still be modified, overwritten, or deleted.
For example, if your system is hit by ransomware, there’s a high chance your backup files will also be encrypted or destroyed. Attackers often target backup folders or storage systems to ensure recovery becomes impossible.
This is where traditional backups fall short.
Immutable Backups Are Different
An immutable backup is a backup that cannot be changed or deleted once it has been created. The data is locked for a defined retention period. Even if an attacker gains access to your systems or storage, they cannot tamper with the backup files.
The core principle is simple:
- You can write the backup once.
- You can read or download it when needed.
- You cannot alter or delete it until its expiry date.
This approach ensures that your recovery points remain untouched and reliable, even during a catastrophic event.
Why Immutability Matters in 2025
Today’s threats are not limited to hardware failure or accidental deletion. The bigger risks come from:
- Ransomware attacks that try to encrypt everything, including backups.
- Misconfigured automation that can wipe clean, healthy data.
- Insider threats from employees or contractors.
- Compromised credentials giving attackers admin-level access.
Without immutability, any of these events could result in the loss of both your primary data and your backups.
Key Benefits of Immutable Backups
- Tamper-proof: Once saved, data cannot be changed.
- Resilient to attacks: Hackers cannot erase your recovery points.
- Compliant: Helps with regulations that require secure and undeletable records.
- Reliable recovery: You always have a clean, original version to restore from.
How PettiCloud Handles Immutability
PettiCloud is designed to help you survive the worst-case scenario. Here’s how we handle backups:
- Immutability by default: Every backup is locked based on your defined retention settings.
- Offsite backup storage: Your data is stored outside your primary infrastructure for added safety.
- Encryption and access control: Even before immutability kicks in, your data is secure.
Final Thoughts
A backup that can be deleted is not a real backup. It’s just another copy of your data, vulnerable to the same threats.
Immutable backups are not a nice-to-have feature. They are a necessity.
If you're still using traditional methods, it's time to evaluate how safe your data really is. Immutability adds the trust and integrity your business needs to recover from the unexpected.
Want to see how immutable backups work in real-world scenarios? Talk to us. We’ll walk you through it.
