The Backup Wrap-Up

Understanding how ransomware works is critical for anyone responsible for protecting their organization's data. In this episode of The Backup Wrap-up, we examine the five core objectives that drive nearly every ransomware attack - from initial access through the final ransom note delivery.I'm joined by my co-author Dr. Mike Saylor as we kick off what's going to be a comprehensive series on our new book, "Learning Ransomware Response and Recovery." We start at the beginning: how do these attackers even get in? Mike breaks down the role of initial access brokers (IABs) - the bad guys who specialize in harvesting and selling credentials. We talk about why email phishing remains the cheapest and most statistically reliable attack vector, even with all our defenses.From there, we walk through lateral movement and reconnaissance. Once attackers are inside your network, they're not sitting idle. They're mapping your environment, identifying your crown jewels, and figuring out where your backups live. The "phone home" phase establishes command and control, letting attackers coordinate their activities and receive instructions.We dig into data exfiltration and the rise of double extortion. It's not enough anymore to just encrypt your data - attackers are stealing it first, threatening to publish it even if you can restore from backups. Mike shares some fascinating details about how sophisticated ransomware can be, including variants that examine file headers rather than just extensions to find valuable targets.The encryption phase itself is resource-intensive, and Mike explains why you might actually notice your computer acting weird if you're paying attention. Your mouse hesitates, typing lags, the network slows down - these are all potential warning signs.Finally, we cover how ransom notes are delivered today. Spoiler: it's not the old-school desktop background takeover anymore. Modern ransomware drops text files in every folder it touches, making sure you can't miss the message.This episode sets the foundation for understanding how ransomware works, which is the first step in defending against it and recovering when prevention fails.

Disk backup security is the weak link that ransomware attackers exploit every day—and most backup admins don't even realize it. In this episode, Curtis and Prasanna examine how the move from tape to disk-based backups created an unintended security gap that threat actors now target as their first priority.The transition to disk brought real benefits: deduplication made storage affordable, replication eliminated the "man in a van" for offsite copies, and backup verification became practical. But disk backup security wasn't part of the original architecture. When backups lived on tape, physical access was required to destroy them. Disk backups sitting in E:\backups can be wiped out with a single command.Threat actors figured this out fast. After gaining initial access, the first thing they do is identify and eliminate your backups. No backups means no recovery—which means you pay the ransom.Curtis and Prasanna discuss the history of how we got here, why backups are now the number one target, and practical solutions including obfuscation, getting backups out of user space, and implementing truly immutable storage. The standard is simple: if you can't delete the backups, they can't delete the backups.TIMESTAMPS:0:00 - Episode intro1:24 - Welcome & introductions4:04 - Tape explained for the modern audience9:07 - Why tape got faster (and problematic)10:54 - The shoe-shining problem12:27 - Deduplication changes everything15:35 - Benefits of disk-based backup20:29 - THE PROBLEM: RM -r / DEL .23:43 - Backups are the #1 ransomware target26:26 - Immutability as the solution27:32 - Book: Learning Ransomware Response & Recovery

What is ransomware, and why does it remain the number one threat to businesses of all sizes? In this episode of The Backup Wrap-up, W. Curtis Preston and Prasanna Malaiyandi break down the fundamentals of ransomware attacks and explain why the question "what is ransomware" still gets searched tens of thousands of times each month.We cover the two main types of ransomware attacks: traditional encryption-based attacks where hackers lock your data and demand payment, and the newer double extortion model where attackers steal your sensitive information before encrypting it—then threaten to publish everything if you don't pay.Our hosts share real-world examples including the Sony hack, the Costa Rica government attack, and the massive Jaguar Land Rover breach that cost over $2.5 billion. Whether you're a Fortune 500 company or a small dental office, this episode explains what is ransomware, why you're a target, and why preparation is your best defense.

What's your real backup TCO? Most organizations focus on software licenses, hardware, and cloud storage when budgeting for backup infrastructure. But those are just the visible costs. The true backup TCO includes something far more expensive: the humans managing it all.In this episode, Curtis and Prasanna break down the complete picture of backup costs. They explore why soft costs—the labor, the troubleshooting, the daily monitoring—often exceed what you're paying for technology. With studies showing over half of environments spend more than 10 hours weekly on backup management, those labor dollars add up fast.The discussion covers cloud storage pitfalls (especially with object lock and retention policies), why automation is your best friend, and whether SaaS-based backup might actually save you money. Curtis shares his infamous 1993 story about losing a production database – the origin story of Mr. Backup himself. If you're looking to get a handle on your backup TCO, this is the episode for you.

Ransomware attacks on backups have reached epidemic levels, with 96% of attacks now targeting backup infrastructure. In this episode of The Backup Wrap-up, Curtis Preston and Prasanna Malaiyandi break down the alarming statistics and explain why cybercriminals have made your recovery systems their primary target.The math is simple: if attackers destroy your backups, you're far more likely to pay the ransom. And with only 25% of organizations feeling prepared for ransomware attacks on backups, the gap between threat and readiness is massive.Curtis and Prasanna discuss two studies revealing these numbers, explore why less than 7% of companies recover within a day, and outline practical defenses including true immutability, separate identity management systems, and MFA. If you're not protecting your backup infrastructure from ransomware attacks on backups, you're leaving yourself wide open.

Building a cyber security team isn't optional anymore; it's the difference between recovering from ransomware and going out of business. In this episode, Curtis and Prasanna explain why hardening your backup infrastructure is only half the battle. You need professionals who know how to configure XDR systems without drowning you in false positives, blue teams to defend your environment, and red teams to test whether your defenses actually work. They cover the role of MSSPs, incident response planning, cyber insurance requirements, and why attempting ransomware response on your own is like those old TV warnings: "Don't try this at home." If you've been following their series on backup basics and system hardening, this episode ties it all together with the human element that makes or breaks your recovery plan.

Want to know how to build an resilient backup system that protects from ransomware attacks? In this episode, Curtis and Prasanna go beyond the basics to discuss four critical security features every modern backup system needs. Building on feedback from their previous episode about backup fundamentals, they cover multi-factor authentication (and why SMS doesn't cut it anymore), secure remote access methods, role-based access control, and when to bring in managed security service providers. The hosts explain why the person with full backup system access is literally the most powerful person in your company from a data destruction standpoint. If ransomware is your number one recovery scenario—and it is—then these security hardening techniques aren't optional. They're survival skills for your backup infrastructure.

Every backup system needs certain design elements to actually work when disaster strikes. In this episode of The Backup Wrap-up, W. Curtis Preston (Mr. Backup) and Prasanna Malaiyandi break down the 10 non-negotiable components your backup system must have. They cover the 3-2-1 rule, automated scheduling, recovery testing, defined RTOs and RPOs, backup security, SaaS protection, documentation, retention policies, monitoring, and endpoint backup. If your backup system is missing any of these elements, you're taking risks you can't afford. Curtis and Prasanna share war stories from real disasters and explain why no one cares if you can back up - they only care if you can restore. This fast-paced episode gives you the checklist every IT professional needs to evaluate their current backup approach.

The 3-2-1 rule is dead. Long live 3-2-1-1-0. For decades, the 3-2-1 rule has been the gold standard for backup strategies - three copies of your data, on two different media, with one copy somewhere else. But ransomware killed it. Not because the fundamentals were wrong, but because threat actors learned to target backups specifically. In this episode, Curtis and Prasanna explain why the traditional 3-2-1 rule isn't enough anymore and what the evolution to 3-2-1-1-0 means for your backup strategy. The extra "1" stands for one immutable, air-gapped copy that attackers can't delete or encrypt. The "0" means zero failures - your backups must actually work when you need them. You'll learn why SaaS platforms don't meet the 3-2-1 rule, how to think about immutability in the cloud era, and why this upgrade isn't optional if you want to survive a ransomware attack.Our interview with Peter Krogh, the one who coined the term:https://www.backupwrapup.com/peter-krogh-who-coined-the-3-2-1-rule-on-our-podcast/

Want to know how much data you're really willing to lose? We're breaking down recovery point objective RPO - the agreement about how much data loss you can accept, measured in time. Most organizations have RPOs that are pure fantasy, claiming they can only lose an hour of data when they're backing up once a day. Curtis and Prasanna discuss why RPO matters, how ransomware scenarios can force you to accept more data loss than planned, and the difference between your stated RPO and your actual backup frequency. Learn practical strategies for rightsizing your backup schedule, using database transaction logs to minimize data loss, leveraging snapshot-based backup technologies, and protecting your SaaS applications like Microsoft 365 and Salesforce. From incremental backups to continuous data protection, discover how modern backup technology can help you meet your recovery point objective RPO targets without overwhelming your infrastructure.

Most IT teams can't meet their recovery time objective—and they don't even know it. In this episode of The Backup Wrap-up, Curtis and Prasanna explain why your RTO is probably fantasy, who should actually be setting it (hint: not you), and what recovery time actual really means. We cover the critical difference between objectives and reality, why testing is non-negotiable, and how to have honest conversations with business leadership about what's achievable. Learn about DR drills, chaos engineering, tabletop exercises, and why measuring your actual recovery times is the only way to close the gap. Stop feeling like a failure and start building realistic, tested recovery plans that actually work when disaster strikes.

Many organizations believe that Microsoft 365 backup is handled by Microsoft. That's a dangerous misconception. In this episode, W. Curtis Preston (Mr. Backup) and Microsoft 365 expert Vanessa Toves explain why you own your data and are responsible for protecting it—not Microsoft. They discuss the limitations of the recycle bin, why retention policies aren't backups, and what can go wrong when organizations assume SaaS means hands-off data protection. Whether you're running a Fortune 500 company or a small business, if you're using Microsoft 365, you need a proper backup solution. Learn why the shared responsibility model means you're on the hook for your data, and what you can do to protect it. This conversation will change how you think about cloud data protection.

Ransomware detection is more complex than most organizations realize. In this episode, cybersecurity expert Mike Saylor breaks down the real-world signs of ransomware attacks—from users complaining about slow computers to smart devices acting strangely. We explore polymorphic malware that changes based on its target, the risks posed by managed service providers using shared credentials, and why milliseconds matter in ransomware detection and response. Mike explains the difference between EDR, XDR, SIEM, and SOAR tools, helping you understand which security solutions you actually need. We also discuss why 24/7 monitoring is non-negotiable and how even small businesses can afford proper ransomware detection capabilities. If you're trying to protect your organization without breaking the bank, this episode offers practical guidance on building your security stack and knowing when to call in expert help.

This episode examines a sophisticated ArcGIS hack that remained undetected for 12 months. The threat group Flax Typhoon compromised an ArcGIS server by exploiting weak credentials and deploying a malicious Java extension that functioned as a web shell. The attack highlights critical failures in traditional security approaches: the malware was backed up along with legitimate data, signature-based detection tools completely missed the custom code, and the lack of multi-factor authentication made the initial breach possible. Curtis and Prasanna discuss why behavioral detection is now mandatory, how password length trumps complexity, and the importance of cyber hygiene practices like regular system audits and extension management. They also cover ReliaQuest's recommendations for preventing similar attacks, including automated response playbooks and monitoring for anomalous behavior. If you're running public-facing applications or managing any IT infrastructure, this episode provides actionable lessons you can't afford to ignore.https://reliaquest.com/blog/threat-spotlight-inside-flax-typhoons-arcgis-compromise

Deepfake attacks are exploding, and your company is probably not ready. In this episode of The Backup Wrap-up, we dive into how cybercriminals are using AI to clone voices and create fake videos to authorize fraudulent wire transfers and reset credentials. With nearly 50% of businesses already experiencing deepfake attacks, this isn't a future problem – it's happening right now. We break down the two main attack vectors: authorization fraud (where fake CEOs trick employees into wiring money) and credential theft (where attackers reset passwords and MFA tokens). More importantly, we give you actionable defense strategies: multi-channel verification protocols, callback procedures for sensitive transactions, employee training programs, and break-glass scenarios. You'll learn what not to rely on (spoiler: caller ID is worthless) and why policy and procedure matter more than technology alone. This is a must-listen for anyone responsible for security or financial controls.

When cyber attack notification goes wrong, companies face a disaster worse than the original breach. This episode dives deep into the critical mistakes organizations make when communicating about security incidents - and why transparency beats secrecy every time.We examine real-world failures like LastPass and Rackspace, where poor communication strategies amplified the damage from their cyber attacks. From legal requirements in California and GDPR to the new one-hour notification rules in China, we cover what regulations demand and why going beyond compliance makes business sense.Learn how to create effective status pages, manage customer expectations during recovery, and avoid the death-by-a-thousand-cuts approach that destroys trust. We share practical strategies for early and frequent communication that can actually strengthen customer relationships during crisis situations.

Insider threats represent one of the most dangerous cybersecurity risks facing organizations today - and they're way more common than you think. In this episode of The Backup Wrap-up, we explore the three main types of insider threats: compromised employees who get extorted or have their credentials stolen, disgruntled workers who want revenge after getting fired, and outside attackers who infiltrate your company to become malicious insiders. We break down real-world scenarios and discuss how to protect against them using least privilege principles, monitoring systems, and immutable backups. You'll learn why 31% of insider threat incidents could have been prevented if someone had spoken up, and why immutable backups are your last line of defense when an insider goes rogue. This is a must-listen for anyone responsible for data protection and cybersecurity.

Advanced persistent threats represent one of the most dangerous cyber security challenges facing organizations today. These long-term, stealthy attacks allow hackers to maintain undetected access to networks for extended periods. In this episode, we analyze multiple APT scenarios from Mr. Robot, including the Evil Corp hack, Ollie's compromised laptop, and the Dark Army's infiltration of Allsafe. We explore how threat actors establish footholds, maintain persistence, and operate across different network segments. From raspberry pi devices hidden in executive washrooms to compromised thermostats communicating with other facilities, we examine the various ways APTs can manifest. Our discussion covers detection methods, the importance of monitoring new devices, and why proper incident response goes far beyond simple malware scans. Learn the red flags to watch for and why machine learning tools are becoming critical for identifying suspicious network behavior.

This episode of The Backup Wrap-up examines cybersecurity situational awareness through the lens of Mr. Robot's prison break episode. Curtis and Prasanna analyze the technical accuracy of USB stick attacks, Bluetooth car hacking, and social engineering tactics. The hosts discuss real-world defenses including USB port management, network segmentation, and employee training. They explore WPA2 encryption vulnerabilities and why upgrading to WPA3 matters for wireless security. The conversation covers practical cybersecurity situational awareness lessons, from recognizing physical security threats to monitoring network traffic patterns. Curtis shares war stories about malware-infected conference USB sticks, and both hosts examine how poor cybersecurity situational awareness enabled the fictional attacks. This episode provides actionable insights for IT professionals looking to strengthen their organization's security posture against USB-based threats, Bluetooth exploits, and social engineering campaigns.

Learn the ins and outs of honeypot server deployment and management in this episode of The Backup Wrap-up. We break down the cybersecurity concept using examples from Mr. Robot episodes 1.6 and 1.7, showing how these deceptive systems can catch both external attackers and insider threats.A honeypot server works by creating an enticing target that looks valuable but contains no real business data. The key is making it accessible through common exploits and monitoring every access attempt. Curtis and Prasanna discuss real-world implementation strategies, from naming conventions to network placement, and explain why the honeypot only works if attackers don't know it exists. They also cover the critical importance of remote log storage for forensic analysis and how these systems can reveal attack patterns and entry points during incident response.