The Backup Wrap-Up

Capping our series on cloud disasters is this one on cloud disaster recovery. In this episode, we review the lessons we learned from discussing 10 cloud disasters. We talk about the critical strategies and techniques to ensure your data is protected and recoverable in the event of a disaster in the cloud. From the basic 3-2-1 rule to the pitfalls of solely trusting your cloud provider for proper disaster recovery, we dive into real-world examples and expert insights to help you build a robust cloud disaster recovery plan for your cloud data.Discover the importance of regular testing, the role of third-party backup solutions, and the key considerations for choosing a reliable cloud provider. Whether you're a small business or a large enterprise, this episode provides actionable advice to enhance your cloud disaster recovery posture and maintain business continuity in the face of unexpected disruptions. Tune in now and learn how to safeguard your valuable data in the cloud era.

In this episode, we discuss the devastating crash experienced by the popular YouTube channel "Life Uncontained," which resulted in the loss of a month's worth of irreplaceable video footage. The Life Uncontained crash serves as a stark reminder of the importance of proper backup strategies for protecting valuable digital assets. We delve into the lessons learned from this unfortunate incident and explore the best practices for safeguarding your data from hardware failures and other potential disasters. From the 3-2-1 backup rule to the use of multiple storage media, we cover the essential steps you can take to minimize the risk of catastrophic data loss. Whether you're a content creator, business owner, or simply someone who values their digital memories, this episode provides crucial insights into the world of data protection and backup. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from the "Life Uncontained" story and fortify your own backup plan.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQsTs3C0T-c&ab_channel=LifeUncontained

In 2014, the cloud-based research platform Dedoose suffered a catastrophic crash, losing customer data and backups simultaneously. We examine the causes of the Dedoose crash, its impact on users, and crucial lessons for anyone relying on SaaS. Learn how subpar backup practices, like monthly-only backups and overwriting previous versions, can lead to disaster. Hear how Dedoose responded and key steps to prevent your own cloud data calamity.Links from this episode:https://www.informationweek.com/it-infrastructure/social-science-site-using-azure-loses-data#close-modalhttps://www.insidehighered.com/news/2014/05/16/dedoose-crash-shows-dangers-handing-data-cloud-serviceshttps://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-dedoose-crash-academic-cloud-20140512-story.htmlhttps://www.chronicle.com/blogs/wiredcampus/hazards-of-the-cloud-data-storage-services-crash-sets-back-researchershttps://web.archive.org/web/20230927112141/https://www.dedoose.com/blog/dedoose-update-significant-data-recovery-successful-how-to-save-a-project-locallyhttps://web.archive.org/web/20140512214308/http://blog.dedoose.com/2014/05/dedooses-black-eye-crash-and-recovery-efforts/https://www.dedoose.com/about/security

In this episode, we examine the StorageCraft outage that erased customer backup data during a botched cloud migration. We compare StorageCraft's response to Carbonite's in a similar incident and discuss the critical lessons for backup vendors and customers. Learn the importance of meticulous migration processes, potential backup resiliency strategies, and what to do if your cloud backups disappear. Don't miss these vital insights to avoid cloud backup disasters and ensure your data is always recoverable.Stories covering this outage:https://www.crn.com/slide-shows/storage/arcserve-ceo-storagecraft-backup-data-loss-not-acceptablehttps://www.techtarget.com/searchdisasterrecovery/news/252515647/StorageCraft-DRaaS-outage-highlights-layered-protection-needhttps://www.reddit.com/r/msp/comments/tgggey/just_got_a_call_from_storagecraft_cloud_data_is/https://blocksandfiles.com/2022/03/22/arcserve-storagecraft-operation-has-lost-customer-data/https://www.channele2e.com/news/arcserve-storagecraft-draas-suffers-cloud-data-protection-issues

In this episode, we examine the Rackspace ransomware attack that crippled the company's hosted exchange environment, affecting thousands of customers. We discuss the timeline of events, the importance of timely patching, and the challenges Rackspace faced in restoring customer data. Learn about the value of comprehensive disaster recovery plans and third-party backups in protecting your organization from similar attacks. Don't miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights from one of the most significant ransomware incidents in recent years.

In this episode, we uncover the troubled history of Carbonite, a once prominent cloud backup provider plagued by lawsuits. In one Carbonite lawsuit they were the plaintiff, in another they were the defendant. From using inadequate storage arrays to failing to protect customer data, Carbonite's story serves as a warning for backup customers. Learn the importance of thoroughly vetting backup vendors and the risks of blindly trusting marketing claims. Don't miss this deep dive into Carbonite's multi-million dollar legal battles and valuable lessons for anyone relying on cloud backup services.Stories discussed in this episode:https://backupcentral.com/carbonite-liar/https://archive.nytimes.com/pogue.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/27/carbonite-stacks-the-deck-on-amazon/https://www.theregister.com/2009/03/23/carbonite_sues_promise/https://www.backblaze.com/blog/carbonite-data-loss-reports-miss-the-point/https://www.datacenterknowledge.com/archives/2009/03/23/carbonite-lawsuit-reveals-data-losshttps://www.datacenterknowledge.com/archives/2009/03/25/more-on-carbonites-data-losshttps://archive.nytimes.com/pogue.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/27/carbonite-stacks-the-deck-on-amazon/https://www.computerworld.com/article/2481289/carbonite-loses-7-500-customers--files--ouch-.htmlhttps://techcrunch.com/2009/01/03/journalspace-drama-all-data-lost-without-backup-company-deadpooled/https://archive.nytimes.com/bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/11/carbonite-steps-up-the-competition-in-online-back-up/?scp=1&sq=mozy&st=cse&apage=2#commentshttps://www.cnet.com/tech/tech-industry/carbonite-sues-hardware-maker-reseller/​​https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/legaldocs/byprkkkozve/01312024carbonite.pdf

In this episode of The Backup Wrap-Up, Curtis and his co-host dive into the chaos caused by Salesforce's accidental "modify all" permission change in 2019. They explore the fallout from this real-world SaaS disaster, including how Salesforce scrambled to restore proper permissions and the frustration felt by impacted customers.Curtis and his co-host discuss the crucial role third-party backups could have played in mitigating the impact of this incident, and why relying solely on a SaaS vendor's recovery capabilities can leave organizations vulnerable. They also share practical advice on how listeners can avoid similar cloud disasters by implementing a comprehensive backup strategy for their SaaS applications.Whether you're a Salesforce user, a SaaS enthusiast, or simply interested in the world of data protection, this episode offers valuable insights and entertaining anecdotes that will help you become a Cyber Recovery Hero. Tune in to learn, laugh, and discover how to safeguard your organization's critical data in the cloud.LinksOriginal SF post: https://issues.salesforce.com/issue/a028c00000qQ53kAAC/user-profiles-and-permission-sets-related-to-pardot-licensed-orgs-were-modified-by-salesforceSecond post: https://salesforce.stackexchange.com/questions/262830/salesforce-bug-enabled-modify-allBig deal: https://appomni.com/blog_post/2019-blog-modify-all/SF follow up: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=000384056&type=1

In this shocking episode of The Backup Wrap-up, we delve into the jaw-dropping data loss disaster that struck global consulting giant KPMG at the height of the 2020 pandemic. With one errant click, a Microsoft 365 admin accidentally wiped out months of critical Teams chat data for a staggering 145,000 employees.Join host W. Curtis Preston as he unravels this extraordinary tale of digital destruction and explores the crucial lessons it holds for organizations relying on Microsoft 365 and other SaaS platforms. Curtis breaks down the differences between retention policies and actual backups, exposes common misconceptions about cloud provider data protection responsibilities, and highlights the potential legal and compliance nightmares that can arise from such catastrophic data loss.If you're using Microsoft 365 or any SaaS application, you can't afford to miss this vital wake-up call. Tune in to discover why a robust third-party backup strategy is essential, no matter how big your company or how reliable your cloud provider seems. Learn from KPMG's misfortune and ensure your organization's critical data is always protected, in the cloud and beyond.Don't become the next cautionary tale – listen now and secure your SaaS data before it's too late!

In this important episode of the Backup Wrap-up, W. Curtis Preston, AKA Mr. Backup, takes you on a deep dive into the shocking story of the OVHCloud data center fire of 2021. This catastrophic event left hundreds of customers scrambling to recover their precious data (often without backups), exposing the startling truth about OVHCloud's data center and backup practices and the devastating consequences of misplaced trust in cloud providers.As usual, Curtis is joined by co-host Prasanna Malaiyandi as they unravel the complex web of controversial decisions, legal battles, and hard lessons learned from this disastrous incident. They explore the factors contributing to the fire's severity, the staggering extent of the data loss, and the eye-opening revelations about OVHCloud's backup infrastructure.But this episode is more than just a cautionary tale. Curtis and Prasanna delve into the crucial questions every organization must ask their cloud provider to ensure their data is truly secure. They share invaluable insights and actionable advice to help you avoid falling victim to a similar fate.Whether you're an IT professional responsible for safeguarding your company's data or an individual looking to protect your digital life, this episode is a must-listen. You'll come away with a deeper understanding of the risks associated with cloud storage, the importance of robust backup strategies, and the steps you can take to become a cyber-recovery hero.Don't miss this opportunity to learn from one of the most significant cloud disasters in recent history. Tune in now and discover how you can keep your data out of the fire and emerge as an unsung hero in the world of backup and recovery.Articles covering this story:https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/ovh-fire-octave-klaba-says-ups-systems-were-ablaze/https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/fire-could-cost-ovhcloud-105-million-ipo-filing-reveals/https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/ovhcloud-ordered-to-pay-250k-to-two-customers-who-lost-data-in-strasbourg-data-center-fire/https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/ovhcloud-fire-report-sbg2-data-center-had-wooden-ceilings-no-extinguisher-and-no-power-cut-out/Election worker episode:https://www.backupwrapup.com/election-poll-site-manager-explains-us-election-systems/

In this episode, we uncover the little-known but cautionary tale of Musey, a startup building an interior design app that catastrophically lost everything when an admin accidentally deleted their entire Google Workspace account.We dive deep into:How a single slip-up by an admin led to over $1.5 million of intellectual property stored in Google Drive getting instantly wiped outMusey's desperate attempts to get their data back by contacting Google and even filing a lawsuitHow not even the cloud giants like Google have an obligation to restore customer data lost due to error or malfeasanceWhy you absolutley need independent backups of cloud data instead of blindly trusting sync and retention policiesThe devastating story of Musey serves as a sobering reminder that human error can still trump even the most resilient cloud platforms. Don’t miss this rare peek behind the curtain at a colossal cloud failure that very few people know about.Story: https://www.theregister.com/2019/07/05/musey_v_google_lawsuit/Lawsuit filed: https://regmedia.co.uk/2019/07/05/musey_v_google.pdfLawsuit pulled: https://dockets.justia.com/docket/california/candce/4:2019cv03864/344456Museyapp.com 6/6/19 says “buy this domain”:https://web.archive.org/web/20190606022957/http://www.museyapp.com/

In 2014, software-as-a-service company Code Spaces disappeared overnight after a devastating cyber attack. Thousands of coders lost access to their work when insufficient cloud backups failed under pressure. The company was forced to go out of business.Learn the tragic tale of how Code Spaces ignored standard data protection rules, putting their business and clients at risk. We’ll unpack what went wrong with their cloud architecture and backup systems, allowing a single hacker to destroy their SaaS company.Understand why you still need backup - even native cloud redundancy isn't enough. Our hosts explore the hard lessons from this cloud catastrophe and equip you with actionable advice around security, access controls, preparation, and backup policies. Safeguard your slice of the cloud and avoid the mistakes that ultimately shuttered Code Spaces.Articles covering this story:https://www.esecurityplanet.com/networks/code-spaces-destroyed-by-cyber-attack/https://www.itgovernance.co.uk/blog/the-attack-that-forced-code-spaces-out-of-business-what-went-wronghttps://www.breaches.cloud/incidents/codespaces/https://threatpost.com/hacker-puts-hosting-service-code-spaces-out-of-business/106761/https://thehackernews.com/2014/06/cyber-attack-on-code-spaces-puts.htmlhttps://www.csoonline.com/article/547518/disaster-recovery-code-spaces-forced-to-close-its-doors-after-security-incident.htmlhttps://blogs.manageengine.com/it-security/passwordmanagerpro/2014/08/20/code-spaces-aws-security-breach-a-sad-reminder-of-the-importance-of-cloud-environment-password-management.html

In this information-packed episode, backup guru W. Curtis Preston and expert guest Prasanna Malaiyandi explore the elements of crafting an effective disaster recovery (DR) runbook. They discuss how a properly structured runbook eliminates confusion during crises by clearly outlining responsibilities and contacts. From making runbooks accessible and absorbed to keeping them actionable with constant updates and tests, they share the 8 critical factors for DR success. Tune in to transform your backup admins into confident cyber recovery heroes with battle-tested runbooks.

Disaster lurks around every corner - ransomware, natural disasters, human errors. Are you thinking about all the data and systems at risk. Is your organization prepared? In this episode, Curtis and Prasanna pull back the curtain on the disaster recovery decision - to build or to buy? They unpack the tradeoffs around cost, complexity, control, and even cybersecurity. Whether you're an anxious IT leader losing sleep over business continuity or just disaster recovery curious, you won't want to miss this episode.Will your DR strategy survive? Tune in now to find out!

Creating an effective DR strategy means understanding the critical differences between hot, warm, and cold recovery sites. Join backup guru W. Curtis Preston and his cohost Prasanna Malaiyandi for the latest Backup Wrap-Up as they outline real-world strategies to match your RTO, RPO, and budget. You’ll learn the unique benefits and challenges of using both primary for hot sites, and backup replication to cost-effectively create warm recovery sites.They also tackle the complexities of cloud DR for VMware environments. Can you do DR of VMware to AWS? What conversion hurdles do you need to plan for? Tune in to find out.Whether you're a scrappy SMB or an enterprise with serious SLAs, this tactical episode delivers actionable advice to advance your resilience game. Learn how to leverage the cloud's economies of scale and keep business running no matter what gets thrown your way.The backup wrap up turns unappreciated backup admins into cyber recovery heroes.

When disaster strikes, you better have a solid plan for where you’ll recover your operations. Join me, W. Curtis Preston, and Prasanna Malaiyandi, as we explore the nitty-gritty details of your three main options for a disaster recovery site.We’ll dig into the pros, cons, risks, and costs associated with rolling your own DR site, hiring a third-party service, or leveraging the public cloud. Each path has its twists and turns. How do you keep a secondary site in sync? What if a regional disaster takes down your DR provider? Can the cloud flex to meet your recovery needs? Tune in for straight-shooting answers.This episode tackles the tough questions so you can make informed, bulletproof decisions on housing your failover infrastructure. As always, I’m drawing from decades of experience as a recovering backup admin, and I've designed this podcast just for pros like yourself.Batten down the hatches and prepare to take notes - it’s time to build a life raft for your data! For those interested in The Gobox Studio, here you go! https://goboxstudio.com/

Staying resilient in the face of disaster is crucial for any organization today. In this episode, we dive deep into crafting robust disaster recovery plans that help you outmaneuver outages.We discuss critical groundwork like taking inventory across environments and analyzing risk to determine what to prioritize recovering when the worst happens. Whether it's ransomware, natural disasters, or other threats taking systems down, smart preparation makes all the difference.Key highlights include:Figuring out what scenarios are most likely to impact your business based on risk profilesMaking sure you have visibility into all areas – whether data centers, cloud, SaaS, or endpointsTackling basic protections first before advanced optionsUnderstanding regional risks that may be unique to your geographyThinking through tests that validate your ability to recover when neededThe right disaster recovery means being able to get back to business rapidly. By learning from unfortunate events others have endured, you can architect resilience that lets you bounce back better no matter the scenario.

Are your backups collecting virtual dust rather than readying you for the next unavoidable disaster? Get back to basics on crafting an ironclad disaster recovery plan. We outline the essential infrastructure, applications, staffing, and execution steps often glossed over by the check-the-box enterprise crowd.Going beyond mere data recovery, we detail considerations around standing up replacement infrastructure, understanding system interdependencies, and restoring functionality faster with increased automation. Cloud's scaling and affordability make DR exercises less daunting these days if configured properly on the front-end.With major outages increasingly likely, the principles detailed could dictate whether your business emerges unscathed or shutters for good. We share tips for pragmatic preparation reflecting our scar tissue from failures past when lackadaisical DR rigor proved painful. Ever try troubleshooting recovery steps in the midst of a raging hurricane...or gotten that dreaded 2AM offline alert while welcoming your newborn? We have!Major takeaways:Start recovery documentation with manual steps, increase automation laterTest often - the cloud enables cost-effective exercising at scaleAvailability outshines recovery - build resilient systems and staff cross-trainingKnow precise RTOs and RPOs aligned to business priority and appetiteStay tuned as we separate the mavens from the mayhem when adverse events strike. Get your data DR ducks in order now before things migrate south!News articles from this episode:https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/50k-wordpress-sites-exposed-to-rce-attacks-by-critical-bug-in-backup-plugin/https://jorgedelacruz.uk/2023/12/06/veeam-whats-new-in-veeam-backup-and-replication-v12-1-major-new-features/

In this episode, Curtis and Prasanna do a deep dive on the differences between data backup and data archiving. They thoroughly explain that while backup focuses on restoring systems and files to a prior point in time, archiving is all about being able to search and retrieve specific information for legal or regulatory purposes.Key reasons you'll want to tune in:Learn exactly why companies archive data and how regulatory compliance and legal eDiscovery requests require specialized archive capabilities.Understand the dangers of using your backup system as an archive for eDiscovery - lacking full search and exposing too much irrelevant data risks your legal case.Hear multiple real-world horror stories of companies failing legal cases due to lacking proper archives - to the tune of billions of dollars lost.Get clear examples of how continuous, comprehensive archiving captures all versions of files, emails, and data - including deleted and intermediate items.Get a life-line for those of you who are still using your backup system as an archiveIf you need to implement archiving or fix broken archive approaches that risk legal noncompliance, this episode delivers an excellent primer on how archive differs from backup and what genuine archive systems can do.https://support.google.com/drive/thread/245861992?sjid=15540859157109248518-NChttps://support.google.com/drive/answer/14286582?sjid=8199341837463411967-NAhttps://blog.23andme.com/articles/addressing-data-security-concernshttps://www.backupwrapup.com/what-is-archive-and-retrieve-backup-to-basics/https://www.sullivanstrickler.com

We’re going back to basics in 2024! Our hosts revisit their smash hit episode from last year all about protecting those traditional data sources like physical servers, VMs, laptops, desktops, and mobile devices. From on-prem to mobile, should it all get backed up? How and why? Tune in as Curtis and Prasanna rehash their spirited debate over backup best practices across your infrastructure and walk through real-world examples of what can go wrong. It’s chock full of fundamental wisdom for data protection pros getting started and veterans alike. Whether you’re making big cloud migrations or maintaining legacy systems, don’t miss this special re-release dedicated to the building blocks of backup as we start the year on a backup to basics kick.

This timely episode features an in-depth discussion between cybersecurity expert Melissa Palmer (@vmiss) and hosts W. Curtis Preston and Prasanna Malaiyandi on the crucial role preparation and planning play in effectively responding to and recovering from the inevitable ransomware attack.They stress that flying by the seat of your pants without an incident response plan when ransomware hits leads to chaotic, inefficient efforts and substantially higher costs. Melissa outlines pragmatic steps organizations should take before an attack to develop and test response playbooks, have partnerships in place with response firms, coordinate across internal teams, bolster detection capabilities, and harden backup/recovery mechanisms. Curtis and Prasanna dive into real-world ransomware response scenarios to highlight the complexity organizations face in assessing the scope of damage from attacks and recalibrating restoration priorities. Melissa offers tips on creating robust processes to rebuild compromised environments quickly. They discuss table-top exercises as cost-efficient ways to uncover plan gaps and get stakeholders aligned on roles and timeline expectations.With Melissa's depth of experience assisting ransomware victims, she provides unique insights into preparation best practices often neglected until the worst happens. For IT/security leaders looking to build organizational resilience against ransomware threats, this engaging episode delivers actionable advice on architecting defense-in-depth capabilities tailored to your business requirements.Join us for a great episode!

Changing your organization's backup system is no easy task - it requires careful evaluation of requirements, risks, and capabilities. Many admins get stuck with backup environments they've outgrown or that lag on modern demands.On this episode, backup guru W. Curtis Preston and his cohost Prasanna Malaiyandi lend their expertise to help you determine if and when migrating your backup solution makes sense. You'll learn:Key indicators that your current system is no longer fitting your needsHow to clearly define backup requirements and alignment to recovery objectivesWays to evaluate ease of use, security, and other qualitative factorsGuidance on integrating specialized systems only when necessaryThe importance of prioritizing immutable storage and rapid recoveryChange management best practices that curb instabilityWith ransomware threats growing, the bar for backup keeps rising. Tune in as our two hosts cover everything you need to make backup system change decisions that balance innovation, budget, and risk - avoiding needless switches while still meeting evolving data protection demands. You'll gain real-world clarity that turns unappreciated backup admins into cyber recovery heroes.

After diving into the details of the recent Okta breach enabled by password manager vulnerabilities, Curtis and Prasanna tackle the growing issue of copy data sprawl. They define copy data management – the practice of tracking and governing all duplicated production data for backup, DR, development, analytics etc. What problems result from copy proliferation? How feasible is a single consolidated platform? What regulatory and cost implications exist? Tune in as our hosts break down best practices for cataloging, securing, reducing, and better leveraging your organization’s data copies. Specific topics covered include:Password manager risks exposed in Okta hackCopy data management 101Storage cost, compliance, security issuesTools and solutions landscapeBackup reuse considerations and cautionsCloud vs. data center copy managementJoin Curtis and Prasanna for another engaging combination of news commentary, frameworks, debates, warnings, and recommendations – this week with a data protection slant. Whether you’re a backup admin or IT leader grappling with copy sprawl, this insightful episode has something for you!Articles discussed in this week's episode:https://sec.okta.com/harfileshttps://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2023/11/no-okta-senior-management-not-an-errant-employee-caused-you-to-get-hacked/https://finance.yahoo.com/news/druva-expands-multi-cloud-protection-140000597.htmlhttps://finance.yahoo.com/news/druva-expands-multi-cloud-protection-140000597.html

Tired of backup windows and 24-hour recovery point objectives? Then it's time to learn about how snapshots and replication work together to create near-continuous data protection, or near-CDP.In this episode, backup experts W. Curtis Preston and Prasanna Malaiyandi dive into leveraging snapshots for instant point-in-time recovery and replication for an offsite copy. By combining these technologies, you can achieve recovery point objectives measured in minutes rather than hours or days.Listen in to understand what near CDP is, how it differs from backup and true CDP, and the key capabilities it enables. Discover when to take crash-consistent vs application-consistent snapshots. Learn how near CDP integrates with backup software and how you can use replicated snapshots for automated recovery testing.If you need tighter RPOs and near-instant RTOs for your mission-critical systems, you can’t afford to miss this explanation of how snap and replicate delivers a high-frequency, budget-friendly data protection option. Tune in to become a hero by enabling your organization to recover quickly from data corruption, ransomware, and other threats!

Ransomware attacks and data breaches dominate the headlines, but is your data protection strategy truly secure? This must-listen episode dives deep on an unsung hero of cyber resilience - tape.Tape may have been written off by some as a legacy technology, yet it offers unparalleled air gap protection that no hacker can penetrate. Top experts from Fujifilm and IBM (sponsors of this episode) reveal the major advances that make modern tape more scalable, reliable, and cost-effective than ever before.Learn how the pioneering capabilities of the newest LTO-9 drives and 50TB tape cartridges can economically safeguard tens or hundreds of petabytes. Hear the shocking sustainability advantage, with tape generating 97% less CO2 emissions and using drastically less power than comparable disk solutions.With powerful integrated encryption, quantum-safe algorithms on the horizon, and clever optimizations to tame growing data volumes, tape has been reborn as the undisputed information lifeline every organization needs. Don't let your backups remain exposed - get the insider intel on fortifying your last line of defense with tried and tested tape.Stories referenced in the episode:https://blocksandfiles.com/2023/11/03/backblaze-shard-stash-cache/https://blocksandfiles.com/2023/11/06/cohesity-smartfiles-becomes-snowflake-analytics-playground/

What does "air gap" really mean when it comes to backups? Curtis takes us back to the early days of offsite tape backups with Iron Mountain to explore the principles behind physical air gaps. We learn about barcode tracking, unmarked vans, and multi-factor delete authorization. How do modern "virtual air gaps" in the cloud compare? Are backup vendors misusing important security terms? Join us as we separate marketing hype from real backup protection and learn timeless lessons around alerting, access controls, and immutable data. After this episode, you'll know how to assess if your backups are following air gap principles - no matter what technology you use.

In this episode of The Backup Wrap-Up, host W. Curtis Preston discusses the importance of understanding the difference between snapshots and backups. He emphasizes that storage snapshots should not be considered as true backups. The episode also covers the recent 1Password and Okta hack, highlighting the frustration of such incidents, especially for those who advocate for password managers and cloud technologies. Tune in to learn more about the risks and implications of relying solely on snapshots and the importance of proper backup strategies.

In this episode of the Backup Wrap-Up, W. Curtis Preston and Prasanna Malaiyandi discuss Continuous Data Protection (CDP) and its potential as the next great thing in disaster recovery. They explore the concept of meeting an RTO and RPO of zero and question why CDP isn't used for all backups in DR. Tune in to learn more about CDP and its role in backup and disaster recovery.Article mentioned in the story:https://www.theregister.com/2023/10/10/ransomware_attacks_register_record_speeds

In this episode, W. Curtis Preston, aka Mr. Backup, and Prasanna Malaiyandi discuss the fundamental technology of replication in data protection systems. They explore what replication is, how it differs from other methods, and why it's not used for everything. They also delve into the differences between synchronous and asynchronous replication and why it matters. The hosts also share news of a backup company called Alcion, which recently raised funding with support from Veeam, a backup company investing in Alcion's focus on Microsoft 365 backups for SMB customers. They also discuss a report from ESG about how cloud backup has evolved. The episode provides insights into the world of data protection and highlights the importance of replication in safeguarding valuable data.Articles discussed in this episode:https://www.techtarget.com/searchdatabackup/news/366552363/Veeam-leads-funding-round-for-SaaS-backup-provider-Alcionhttps://www.techtarget.com/searchdatabackup/feature/Cloud-backup-and-disaster-recovery-evolve-toward-maturity

In this episode of the Backup Wrap-Up, host W. Curtis Preston discusses the importance of distinguishing between a copy and a backup to ensure the protection of valuable data. He also explores key backup concepts such as multiplexing, incremental backups, block-level incremental backups, and source-side deduplication. The episode kicks off with a discussion on the recent MGM hack, highlighting the significant impact it had on the hotel chain and the potential for personal information leaks. Tune in to learn how to safeguard your data effectively and become a backup hero.Articles mentioned in the episode:https://www.reddit.com/r/vegas/comments/16hxwj0/explain_like_i_am_5_mgm_hacking/https://www.reversinglabs.com/blog/what-we-know-about-blackcat-and-the-mgm-hack

In this episode of the Backup Wrap-up, we continue our Backup to Basics series by discussing the importance of protecting cloud infrastructure, including Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS). We then dive into the differences between these various cloud services and highlight the need to back up various components of each. We also discuss a recent incident where a Danish hosting company lost a significant amount of customer data due to a ransomware attack, emphasizing the ongoing threat of ransomware and the vulnerability of service providers. Tune in to learn more about safeguarding your data in the cloud.Links to articles mentioned in the post:https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/hosting-firm-says-it-lost-all-customer-data-after-ransomware-attack/https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/how-to-back-up-restore-your-documents-in-windows-10

In this episode of the Backup Wrap-Up, host W. Curtis Preston and co-host Prasanna Malaiyandi explore the topic of data protection in the Internet of Things (IoT) era. With the increasing number of IoT devices in our homes and organizations, it is crucial to understand how to back up and secure the data generated by these devices. They discuss the importance of knowing which devices create important data and where that data is being stored. They also discuss IBM's release of a 150 terabyte tape, which showcases advancements in data storage capacity, and a TechTarget ESG survey about the use of the cloud in data protection.Tune in to this informative episode for insights on safeguarding your IoT data.

In this episode of the Backup Wrap-Up, host W. Curtis Preston, also known as Mr. Backup, and his co-host Prasanna Malaiyandi, discuss the importance (or not) of backing up data in hybrid cloud storage systems, with a possibly surprising answer. The episode begins with backup-related news, followed by a deep dive into a single area or lesson that can help protect against ransomware. The news segment includes a story about Toyota, where multiple manufacturing plants shut down during their production process. Tune in for the answer to the question about backing up hybrid storage systems, and to learn more about data backup and disaster recovery systems.

This is a very short episode to explain our name change and a few other minor changes to the format. The show you know and love is getting better! (Prasanna and I aren't going anywhere.)

In this episode of the Restore It All podcast, W. Curtis Preston, a.k.a. Mr. Backup, and Prasanna Malaiyandi are joined by Chris Groot and Stefan Voss from N-Able, a company specializing in backup, data protection and security systems. Nable focuses on serving the needs of managed service providers to deliver excellent service to small and medium-sized businesses. They discuss the importance of catering to the "Fortune 5 million," which includes businesses with 20 to 2000 employees, highlighting the significant role that small businesses play in our economy. Tune in to learn more about Nable's approach to the cloud data protection space and their goal of making backup admins indispensable.

In this episode of Backup Central's Restore It All podcast, the host welcomes cyber expert Rick Mishka to discuss the three aspects of IT: process, people, and technology. They explore the misconception that a new piece of gear or software is always the solution to every problem, particularly in preventing data exfiltration. Rick also shares insights into his short-form podcast, Cyber Pros, where he covers cybersecurity topics in just nine minutes. Tune in to gain valuable perspectives on backup, DR, and data protection.

In this episode of Restore it All, our hosts Curtis and Prasanna delve deep into the recent significant developments in the world of data backups, with a special spotlight on Microsoft 365's about-face on native user backups. They dissect Microsoft's sudden realization of its potential revenue streams and the ramifications of its new direction.The duo also discusses the intricacies of Microsoft's new backup APIs, sharing insights into the former approaches and the strategic changes aimed at enhancing backup efficiency. They traverse the landscapes of various vendors like AWS and Salesforce, drawing parallels and noting divergences in their backup strategies.Tune in as Curtis and Prasanna ponder the pros and cons of entrusting your backup with the same vendor, emphasizing the importance of not putting all eggs in one basket. The episode beckons listeners to contemplate crucial questions concerning data storage, protection, and ransomware attacks, urging for a meticulous evaluation of Microsoft's new offerings.As they navigate these shifts, the hosts can't help but say, "I told you so," emphasizing the dire need for backing up SaaS services. The conversation leaves listeners with pertinent questions and considerations, beckoning them to anticipate the forthcoming nuances in backup offerings from giants like Microsoft and Salesforce.Join us for an episode packed with expert analysis, predictions, and a little bit of gloating, as the world of data backup takes a turn no one saw coming but was perhaps desperately needed.

In this episode, we look at the latest Ransomware Trends Report from Veeam, which gives us a view into the sobering world of ransomware attacks and the critical lessons they teach us about cyber defense. Join W. Curtis Preston (Mr. Backup) and Prasanna Malaiyandi, as they break down the key insights from the report. We explore the ruthless tactics of ransomware operators, the eye-opening stats on recovery time, and the evolving strategies of cyber insurers. From the importance of robust password management and multi-factor authentication to the strategies for safeguarding your backup server, we lay out a battle plan to protect your digital fortress. Tune in to discover why ransomware isn't just a threat—it's a wake-up call for businesses everywhere to bolster their defenses and emerge stronger against the rising tide of cyber threats. Your data's future might just depend on it.

In this episode, W. Curtis Preston and Prasanna Malaiyandi are joined by Eric Olden, the CEO of Strata Identity. With over 25 years of experience in the cybersecurity industry, Eric sheds light on the concept of Identity Orchestration and how it addresses the complexities of modern identity management in multi-cloud environments. He discusses the evolution of technology consumption, the philosophy of "bought not sold," and the creation of a new product category in the world of identity management. Eric explains how Strata Identity's platform acts as an abstraction layer, allowing organizations to seamlessly integrate and switch between different identity providers without rewriting applications. He also shares insights on modernization, just-in-time provisioning, and the benefits of the open free IDQL standard. Don't miss this engaging discussion about identity orchestration and its role in simplifying the management of identities across diverse cloud ecosystems.

Our guest this week is a specialist at offensive cybersecurity; that is, they keep you safe by attacking you and showing you your vulnerabilities. They're a red team.  We've got the leader of their red team, Duanne Laflotte, to help us understand how hackers think – and what we can do to stop them.  He confirmed some of the recommendations we often make (Ahem: password managers good), but showed us some defenses aren't that helpful. A particularly relevant part to our backup audience is what he told us about the vulnerabilities of our backup system.  At least one of them Mr. Backup had never thought of.  Duanne is fun and scary all at the same time.  I know this will be one of our top episodes this year.

Nothing tells the story like a good story, right?  This week we have Mike Saylor, the CEO of Black Swan, a cybersecurity company.  Boy, has he been in the trenches.  He tells some great stories about responding to cyber attacks. They're great stories and he's a great storyteller.  We also learn about FBI Infragard, a partnership between the FBI and the private sector.  We hope you enjoy the episode.

This week the SEC has made a new rule that publicly traded companies must disclose any cyber attacks within four days.  What if you're not a publicly traded company in the US?  Should you reveal what happened to you?  We bring in a wireless cyber security expert, Scott Schober of Berkeley Varitronics Systems, to talk about this topic.  Closely related is also what should you do when you personally make a big mistake.  Should you tell your boss?  What if you're a boss and someone makes a mistake?  How should you respond?  We get into all of this and more in the week's exciting episode.

During this recording, Mr. Backup asked our guest how many backup systems that he had looked at had at least one critical security flaw, he said pretty much 100%. Holy. Cow. Doron Pinhas runs a company called Continuity Software, that does security assessments of storage and backup and recovery systems. They got the permission of some of their customers to anonymize and publish their findings, and the results were abysmal. (You can read the report yourself here.) He said it was extremely rare to find a backup environment that was properly configured from a security standpoint. He then went on to explain the kinds of things they look for, and how you can secure your storage and backup and recovery environments. He also explained how such environments are typically overlooked by most security scans! He said they have a lot of resources on their website to help you, and they also have automated tools that will ensure you stay secure once you zipped things up. If I were you, I'd check out those resources right now!

Krista Macomber, analyst from the Futurum Group, joins us this week to talk about a number of things, but one thing really bubbled up to the top: co-opting of marketing terms. That is, it's probably using terms to describe their product, because they think you want to hear them. Two big ones these days are "air gapped" and "immutable." Krista and Mr. Backup talk about what these terms really mean – and whether or not your product should be using them to describe their product. You may not get any answers from this episode, but your darn sure will get some questions to back to your backup vendor with.

Today we are proud to have as our guest, Zach Fuller, a founding partner of the Silent Sector, a cybersecurity firm -- and a former Green Beret who served in combat. We talk a little about how his service made him the person he is today, and how it lead him ultimately into helping people protect their own data. We talk about his top few things he wishes people would do to secure their environments (in addition to Mr. Backup's usual suggestions of password management, MFA, and patch management). we found Zach a very engaging person, and we know you'll learn a lot.

Our guest this week (Jim Love from the Hashtag Trending podcast and IT World Canada) touched on something we thought was profound. He felt that some organizations had what he called a "culture of recovery," meaning that they took recovery into account in all aspects of the org. He explained how he fostered this in companies where he worked, and how you can do the same. We also covered generative AI, and he shared several other tips from his many years in the business. Learn the old ways!

iCloud is not a backup; it is a synchronization tool. If you delete things on your phone, it deletes them in iCloud. iCloud is not a backup. In fact, if you have storage optimization turned on, the high-resolution verion of your photos is stored in only one place. If you delete it, it's gone forever. Mr. Backup tries tries three different ways to back up your iPhone, and finally settled on idrive.iDrive was the only solution we found that worked for both iPhone and Android (including if you turned on optimized storage).  If you'd like to try it, make sure to use the link below.Listeners to the podcast get 90% off their first year using the following link (We will also get a referral fee):https://www.idrive.com/idrive/o/p/backupcentral/partner90

This week we talk with Eric Jeffery, a cybersecurity SE and host of the Cyber Security Grey Beard podcast, and he is just a little miffed about how organizations are responding to cyber attacks today. It's not so much about how they respond to the attack itself; it's how they communicate what happened to the public – if at all. He's submitting what happened at the LA Unified School District as his case in point. He's a bit fired up, so this will be a fun one.

Imagine you're a small business or household that just lost everything in a fire, and your phones, ipads, and laptops went up in flames too. Where do you start? You've got a cloud-based password manager (e.g. Dashlane, OnePassword, KeyPass) and MFA system (e.g. Google Authenticator, Authy). How do you authenticate yourself with these systems if you have all new hardware? That's what we're talking about in this episode. We reference this great previous episode about being prepared for disasters:https://www.backupcentral.com/how-to-prepare-for-an-emergency-at-home-and-work/

There was a shocking article by Joanna Stern of the Wall Street Journal about how you are a simple bar trick away from losing access to all your photos (and some money) forever. All they need to do is steal your iPhone after seeing you type in your passcode, and they can lock you out of your account forever. 1. This is why we back up stuff and 2. There is a way to stop this. I'm not yet sure how vulnerable Android folks are to the same problem. If I've piqued your interest, this is the episode for you. Here are two YouTube videos where the WSJ talks about this:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUYODQB_2wQhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCfb9Wizq9Q

Have we got a packed episode for you.  This week in our continued Backup to Basics series, we dive deep into the various options for backing up and recovering databases, along with the pros and cons of each.  Want to figure out the best way to back up your traditional or modern database? This is your episode.  As usual, Mr. Backup and Prasanna also manage to make it fun. This is a great episode and we think you'll enjoy it.