Air Gap Backup for 
Hybrid, Multi-cloud 
Landscapes: What, Why, 
How to Implement?

64% of IT experts consider security as a gargantuan challenge in managing hybrid and multi cloud environments.

Conventional backups are not enough for advanced malware or modern AI-driven ransomware attacks. Strong backup and recovery systems are critical, often separated from the company’s primary networks to prevent the spread of malice actions originating from enterprise systems. Air Gap Backup, is a solution being increasingly mandated by regulatory entities worldwide. SEBI, for instance, decrees air-gapped backups for all its regulated entities to ensure that sensitive information remains secure from cyberattacks. Air-gapped solutions defeat the ransomware attempts to corrupt, encrypt, or exfiltrate data by isolating backup environments either physically or logically. This solution supports compliance with strict regulatory standards while providing a safety net for organizations in this swelling cyber threat landscape.

Modern companies who are looking to improve data integrity across hybrid, multi-cloud landscapes are now realizing the importance of understanding the what, why, and how of Air Gap backup. This blog will dive into the nitty-gritty of implementing an Air Gap Backup that helps enterprises maintain business continuity.

Air Gap Backup: An Essential Defense Against Cyber Attacks

Conventional security approaches can help reduce data loss and system outages, but they are often insufficient in today's multi-cloud, hybrid environments where data is moving via intricately linked systems. At this conjuncture, the concept of an air gap becomes crucial.

The "air gap" is the space created to keep backup data and active production systems apart in case of a cyberattack. It makes a "gap" —either by keeping data offline, in a different physical location, or by constructing a virtual wall that logically divides the backup systems— preventing backup data from being corrupted by even the most skilled attackers. By safeguarding both the recovery process and critical production data, it improves data protection and helps minimize risk.

As part of a comprehensive data protection plan, air gapping as a practice may also apply to various kinds of air-gapped systems and computers that are isolated from any public or susceptible digital access points. An extra degree of protection is added when an organization incorporates an air gap backup into its larger cybersecurity protocols.

Types of Air Gap Backup

Physical or logical isolation should be ensured between the production networks and backup systems when building an air-gapped system. This entails building an architecture with multiple tiers:

• Physical Air Gap - This refers to fully separate backup hardware or storage that is isolated from the main network until backups need to be created or retrieved. Using external media, tape libraries, or specialized separated storage systems, for example, can be considered.
• Logical Air Gap - This denotes the utilization of network segmentation, hardened firewalls, and zero-trust access restrictions to logically isolate backup systems even in situations where complete physical separation is not feasible.
• Virtual Air Gap - This approach runs separate virtual machines (VMs) on the same physical hardware emulate the air gap by using virtualization technologies. Sensitive systems function without direct access to other network resources due to the logical isolation that separates these VMs from one another.
• Cloud Air Gap - An air gap that is hosted on the cloud, where private and sensitive applications are isolated from public cloud networks in a secure cloud environment. There are stringent controls over access to this cloud, and data never bleeds to insecure zones.

To maintain redundancy when working across several clouds, it is essential to use vendor-agnostic tools or services. Firms can collaborate with cloud providers to comprehend how their design promotes isolation (for example, by employing distinct regions or object locks).

Fortifying Data Resilience: Key Components of Air Gap Backup

For organizations, especially those operating in hybrid and multi-cloud settings, strengthening data resilience has become a critical priority in the current era of increasing cyber threats. Controlled access, automated replication, and physical or virtual isolation are some of the essential elements that bolster an organization's resilience to cyberattacks and help it bounce back safely and swiftly. Now let’s take a look at some key components of an air gap backup process.

Isolated Storage and Backup Systems

One of the key components of Air Gap Backup is these systems that keep live operations and backup data apart. With this method, even the most serious cyberattacks are unlikely to jeopardize the integrity of backup data since a purposeful gap is left between them, separating backup systems from the production environment.

Physical isolation can be achieved by employing offline storage devices such as tapes, or it can be logically achieved by having backups connect to the network briefly during data transfers. This isolation helps prevent malware, especially ransomware, from using any direct attack channel to encrypt or corrupt backups.

Isolated storage for hybrid and multi-cloud setups can be either dedicated, guarded data centers that are only accessible through regulated, secure channels, or cloud-based cold storage. Institutions protect their vital data from hacks or breaches that target live systems, making sure backup systems are segregated from production environments.

Access Controls and Network Segmentation

In a multi-cloud setup, network segmentation is essential for an Air Gap Backup approach. Businesses reduce the possibility of attackers moving laterally inside the infrastructure by dividing the network into distinct segments and enforcing stringent access rules on each one. This strategy keeps sensitive systems from being too exposed and prevents a breach in a single region from influencing others.

Secure backup systems require strict adherence to access controls. Only authorized individuals are allowed access to air-gapped environments with tools like identity and access management (IAM) systems, multi-factor authentication (MFA), and role-based access controls (RBAC). Encrypted communication and secure access points are critical components of hybrid systems.

Automation and Orchestration for Speedy Recovery

Disaster recovery can be delayed by manual procedures, particularly in sizable hybrid or multi-cloud environments. The key to Air Gap Backup is automation and orchestration, which enable obstacle-free backup and recovery without the need for human intervention. Automated workflows provide regular backups, prompt data transfers to isolated storage, and quick recovery procedures in the event of disruptions or cyberattacks.

By automating data synchronization, integrating across providers, and maintaining system compatibility, orchestration solutions help improve multi-cloud backup. This lessens downtime and promotes swift and effective post-disaster recovery.

Immutable Backups and Data Integrity

Immutable backups make sure that data is safe and unharmed, which is essential for preventing ransomware from attacking both live and backup systems. They provide a pristine, unaltered copy of the data, facilitating speedy recovery following an attack.

It might be difficult to preserve data integrity in hybrid and multi-cloud settings. Immutable backups provide additional protection and are often included in Air Gap Backup schemes. Organizations can maintain the dependability and restoration readiness of their data with checksums, data integrity monitoring, and end-to-end encryption.

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Why is Air Gap Backup Crucial in Hybrid, Multicloud Environments?

Challenges with Data Security

The vulnerabilities that Air Gap Backup seeks to mitigate are made more significant by the complexity of data security in hybrid and multi-cloud settings.

Air Gap Backup provides ransomware protection, ensuring that malware does not bleed through the main network by isolating the network from the backup data. Therefore, it does not provide a way through which ransomware can spread, making it difficult for such malware to reach the backups.

Through this separation, the attacker cannot access the backup without making their presence known. Since the backups will be secured, the organization can go back into operations. This further helps in strengthening data integrity through advanced encryption with immutable storage, all important layers against the evolving tactics of ransomware.

Growing Cyber Threats

Air-gapped backups play a vital role in defense against threats such as Advanced Persistent Threats and data-wiping malware. APTs penetrate the networks discreetly and remain undetected for a long time; hence, the backup needs to be air-gapped so that it is accessible, secure, and tamper-free.

Data-wiping malware also has the capability to permanently erase data and can cause similar damage if it can gain access to connected backups. The separation, either physical or logical, of backups makes it impossible for such threats to compromise data while air-gapped solutions quickly restore clean data after attack. This is an essential approach to ensure data integrity in the face of advanced cyber threats.

Air-Gapped Benefits

When it comes to isolated backup systems, it is essential to add an additional layer of security and speed up recovery in the event of a breach. This materializes by keeping crucial data offline or independent of live systems. Air-gapped backup solutions ensure high-performance, compliant storage across diverse environments with fully isolated systems and rigorous adherence to regulation, including SEBI standards. It also delivers security via secure protocols, routine safety drills, and fast, lossless data restorations.

Additionally, in a dedicated and shared model, it maximizes ROI while keeping critical data safe and ready to use at all times.

Regulations and Compliance

Resilient air gap backup strategies are necessary to comply with data protection regulations such as the SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India), CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act), and GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation). Air-gapped backup settings provide secure and auditable recovery, which aids organizations in adhering to laws.

Creating an Air Gap Backup Strategy: How to Implement a Safe and Successful Plan?

Evaluating Current Infrastructure Risks

At this stage, a thorough audit of both cloud-based and on-premises systems is conducted to identify potential failure spots, data flows, and interdependencies. To comprehend the possible effects of disruption, it is crucial to determine which programs, workloads, and sensitive data are mission critical. Here are some important queries to respond to:

• Which areas of the infrastructure, such as cloud APIs or legacy systems, are the most vulnerable?
• How often do systems manage confidential transactions or cross-environment data transfers?
• What attack vectors—cyber-attacks, physical disasters, or insider threats—is the infrastructure most vulnerable to?

Risk analysis is essential to create a backup and recovery plan that can adapt to changing circumstances. Vulnerability scanning and penetration testing tools are useful in locating any weaknesses in the system that require attention.

Automating Testing and Air-Gap Workflows for Backups

Since human error and delays often occur in manual operations, automation is a vital component of air gapped backups in disaster recovery. Automation entails establishing workflows that ensure:

• Scheduled Backups - The 3-2-1-1-0 backup rule can be followed (3 data copies, 2 storage types, 1 immutable copy, 1 off-site copy, and 0 backup errors) to automatically create air-gapped backups at regular intervals.
• Automated Data Movement - Encrypted channels can be used to safely and automatically move data from active environments to isolated ones. Solutions such as Immutable Object Storage can be used to make these backups interference-proof.
• Automated Procedure Testing for Recovery - The backup systems should be automated on a regular basis to make sure they are reliable and resilient. This covers data corruption checks, file integrity testing, and comprehensive disaster simulation exercises. Alerts in the event of inconsistent or unsuccessful backup jobs should also be automated.

Strict protocols to be established for the processing and documentation of data, and only authorized staff should be able to access it for security and verification reasons.

Monitoring and Auditing Systems for Ongoing Improvement

Effective air gap backup strategies necessitate ongoing auditing and monitoring to adjust to emerging hazards. To keep backup processes segregated and operational, monitoring systems should be able to identify abnormalities in backup activities.

• Real-time Monitoring - Make use of sophisticated tools that keep an eye on storage health, backup conditions, and network traffic instantly. Artificial intelligence (AI)-powered security analytics may improve detection by spotting unusual activity or security breaches in the backup environment.
• Audits and Compliance - Backup policies need to be in compliance with industry standards and laws (including GDPR and HIPAA), by conducting regular audits. Compliance checks will reduce financial and legal fines in addition to ensuring data security.
• Versioning and Rollbacks - It is also essential to implement versioning and maintain historical backup copies. The auditing process must streamline available rollback options in case of data corruption.

The objective is to guarantee that the air gap stays impermeable and that recovery procedures continue to be effective and frictionless, despite a shifting threat landscape. Prior to a full-blown crisis, monitoring should concentrate on spotting early warning indicators of risk or data tampering.

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From Crisis to Continuity: Cloud4C’s Air Gap Backup Solutions for the Modern Enterprise

~Presence in 52 sites, 26 countries and 26 centers of excellence~

By 2030, it is predicted that 560 disaster incidents will occur each year. 

Businesses are now starting to recognize that a robust hybrid or multicloud disaster recovery environment can maintain business continuity, but the true difficulty resides in simplifying and managing the backup process without loopholes. Issues in ransomware, compliance, and system failures can cripple operations.

Cloud4C, a leading automation-driven and application-focused cloud MSP can help.

Under its umbrella of Disaster Recovery. offerings, Cloud4C offers a dedicated, standalone Air Gap Backup solution to protect businesses at all edges from risks arising from ransomware and system failures, as well as compliance. Unlike general DR strategies, Air gapped backup makes sure that all backups are completely isolated from production environments to prevent accessibility and therefore breaches from occurring. This can help businesses mitigate vulnerabilities with their critical data remaining intact and recoverable even in worst-case scenarios.

Cloud4C’s Air Gap Backup solution complements its full DRaaS offering, providing robust protection without significant CAPEX, as well as fully managed options with replication and strict SLAs for RPO/RTO to suit any business’s compliance needs. This Air Gap approach secures essential data and applications for cloud platforms like AWS, Azure, Oracle, and GCP or private setups.

Some of our Air gap backup tendencies include physical and logical air gapping, multi-cloud backup, on-prem to cloud backup, cold storage and immutable cloud backup, offline backup storage systems, Managed DR Services, DRaaS and more.

Our extensive services include the development of runbooks, DR and BCP Consulting Services, data backup and replication, cost optimization, compliance and governance, managed services, and half-yearly drills with the simulation of DR events.

Contact us to know more.

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