The Last Line of Defense

We all love our data. It keeps our business running, supports our customers, and helps us make smarter decisions every day. Without it, everything grinds to a halt.

But data is also under constant attack. Ransomware has become a daily reality, and by 2025 at least 75% of IT organizations will face one or more ransomware incidents, according to Gartner. What’s even more concerning: attackers aren’t just going after production systems anymore—they’re targeting backups too. In other words, the very thing you rely on for recovery has become a prime target.

That changes everything. Your backup environment is no longer just about disaster recovery. It’s your last line of defense.

Why backups matter more than ever

Traditional backups were designed to protect data integrity and move information offsite in case of failure. That’s no longer enough. Modern ransomware attacks often follow the same playbook:

Break into the network with stolen credentials or malware.
Escalate access to critical accounts, including storage and backup consoles.
Spread ransomware quietly until the damage can be maximized.
Target backup systems to disable schedules or delete copies.
Encrypt or steal sensitive data for leverage.

Recovery isn’t a “nice-to-have” anymore. It’s mission-critical. And it must happen fast—because when ransomware hits, every minute counts.

A new mindset: when, not if

Thinking about ransomware as an inevitable risk shifts the mindset. It’s no longer about if an attack will happen, but when. That’s why backups can’t just sit in the background. They need to be active participants in your security strategy—detecting threats, resisting tampering, and recovering quickly.

This is where Rubrik comes in.

Detect, protect, recover with Rubrik

1. Detecting ransomware early

Ransomware often hides in systems, waiting weeks or even months before striking. Rubrik automatically scans backup data for known ransomware signatures after every backup. If it finds something suspicious, you’re alerted immediately so you can take action before damage spreads.

And if ransomware slips through, Rubrik’s machine learning analyzes backup metadata for anomalies. With a 98% success rate in spotting ransomware patterns, it gives you confidence that threats won’t go unnoticed.

2. Protecting your backups

Your backup system itself needs to be untouchable. Rubrik was built from the ground up with security in mind. Its immutable file system means once data is written, it can’t be altered or deleted by ransomware. Auto-healing keeps your backups healthy, while multi-factor authentication and role-based access ensure attackers can’t simply walk in with stolen credentials.

Even if someone tries to make destructive changes, Rubrik’s “four-eyes” approval system requires a second person to confirm them. That’s zero trust in action.

3. Recovering fast, when it matters most

When ransomware hits, recovery speed can make the difference between disruption and disaster. Rubrik’s recovery wizard identifies the safest point in time before the attack and helps you restore systems—whether that’s a handful of user files or hundreds of virtual machines.

For mission-critical workloads, Rubrik offers instant recovery. Thanks to built-in flash storage, virtual machines and databases can be back online within moments, so your teams can keep working while full restoration happens in the background.

Meet the Gartner checklist

Gartner has outlined what next-gen backup solutions should deliver. Rubrik ticks every box—and then some:

Single software fabric: Integrated storage and backup.
Immutable file storage: No ransomware tampering.
No risky network shares: Data isn’t exposed unnecessarily.
Multi-factor authentication: Security built-in for all accounts.
Role separation and approval workflows: Zero-trust principles enforced.
Multiple copies of backups: Local and offsite, for extra resilience.
Intelligent data lock: Suspicious deletions don’t actually remove data.

With Rubrik, your backup solution transforms from a passive insurance policy into an active security shield.

Automating recovery testing with BART

Of course, backups only matter if they work when you need them. That’s why we built BART: a tool that automatically tests and validates recovery of VMware virtual machines.

BART makes sure your backups don’t just exist, they perform. It answers questions like:

Is this VM safely backed up?
Can it be recovered within the Recovery Time Objective (RTO)?
How old is the backup, and is recovery performance changing over time?

BART integrates with Rubrik (as well as Veeam and Spectrum Protect) and gives you proof of recoverability for audits, compliance, and peace of mind.

What BART delivers

Clear insight into your recovery capabilities.
Automatic validation on your schedule.
Support for compliance and audits.
Fewer surprises when recovery is needed.
Full transparency: all results stored and shared.
Seamless integration with Rubrik, Veeam, and Spectrum Protect in VMware vSphere.

Ready to rethink your last line of defense?

Ransomware isn’t going away, but with the right approach you can stay one step ahead. At Yuma, we believe resilience is about more than just technology—it’s about giving people confidence to move forward without fear.

Want to see Rubrik in action or talk through your recovery strategy? Let’s connect.

Learn more about BART

Christiaan Driessen
Ready to start shaping the business of tomorrow?[email]