Ransomware: Why Backups Alone May Not Save You (and What You Need Instead)

Ransomware is no longer “some hacker in Russia messing around” — it’s a massive industry. Criminals know many small businesses lack strong defenses, so they target you. They encrypt your data, demand ransom, and give you a deadline — often with penalty escalations.

You might think “I have backups, so I’m safe.” But that’s not always enough. Weak backups, overlooked dependencies, or delayed recovery can leave you out of business anyway.

What Is Ransomware & How It Spreads

• Malicious software that encrypts files or systems and demands a ransom (often in cryptocurrency) for the decryption key.

• Usually delivered via phishing emails, drive-by downloads, remote desktop / RDP exploits, or vulnerabilities in software.

• Attackers may also threaten to publish stolen data (double-extortion), so even if you recover, your data may be exposed.

Why Backups Alone Aren’t a Silver Bullet

• Backup corruption or incomplete backups: The ransomware may have already infected files before backup — you unwittingly back up bad data.

• Backups connected / online: If your backups are accessible on the same network, the ransomware might spread to them, too.

• Slow restore times / dependencies: Restoring large volumes or reconfiguring systems takes time — downtime equals lost revenue or client trust.

• Lost versions / snapshots missing: Without versioning or point-in-time snapshots, you may restore to a stage that’s already compromised.

• Ransomers may block or delete backups: Some criminals disable backups or demand deletion of backups as part of the ransom.

• Double extortion / data leaks: Even if you decrypt, your data might already be copied and threatened to be published.

Best Practices for Ransomware Defense & Recovery

	Best Practice
3-2-1 Backup Rule	3 copies of data, 2 different media types, 1 off-site (air-gapped or offline)
Immutable / WORM backups	Backups that can’t be modified or deleted (write-once read-many)
Share-level or file versioning	To roll back to earlier clean versions
Automated backup testing & drills	Regularly test restores so your process is actually valid
Network segmentation/isolation	Limit the spread of ransomware in your internal network.ing
Endpoint protection + EDR (Endpoint Detection & Response)	Detect suspicious behavior early
Patch & vulnerability management	Close software holes before attackers exploit them
Least privilege access	Users only get access they absolutely need; no admin rights by default
Cyber insurance and negotiation support	For the hardest cases, having coverage and legal recourse helps

If You Are Attacked: Steps to Take

1. Disconnect affected systems from the network immediately (isolate).

2. Engage a recovery specialist / MSP to assess the encryption method and possible decryption (if known).

3. Notify authorities/regulators (if required).

4. Use offline backup sets to rebuild systems.

5. After recovery, conduct a root cause analysis, rebuild security posture, and retrain staff.

6. Don’t pay blindly: Research negotiation assistance and law enforcement guidance.

Digital Harbor IT Solutions Can Help!

DigitalHarbor can help you build a resilient, testable backup & recovery plan — not just backups, but restore drills, isolation strategies, immutable storage, and rapid recovery workflows. If you’re in Barrington or neighboring towns and worried that you’re one phishing click away from disaster, call us for a ransomware readiness assessment.

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