Chapter 08 of 11 · Stop the Attack

Backups that survive an attack

Attackers target backups first. Backups need to be isolated, immutable and tested.

  • By Thilanka Dilshan
  • Updated October 8, 2026

Attackers target backups first. Backups need to be isolated, immutable and tested. Online backups reachable with domain credentials are often deleted before encryption starts.

What this means in practice

A useful test is to ask who would act on this tomorrow morning and what they would need. If the answer is unclear, the gap is organisational rather than technical, and that is usually the cheaper one to close.

Key actions

  • Keep at least one offline or immutable copy
  • Use separate credentials for backup systems
  • Test full restores, not just single files

Next steps

Know how long a full restore takes. That number drives your recovery plan. Keep the first version short. A one-page routine that people follow beats a long document nobody reads.

Thilanka Dilshan

Get a 30-Minute Security Briefing.
No Pitch Deck.

Talk to a Sweden-based analyst. We'll review your posture, map your gaps and give you a clear picture of where you stand, in plain language.

Book a Free Briefing
No commitment Sweden-based analyst