In data management, where data loss, security, and regulatory compliance are major concerns, immutable storage is critical for preserving your organization’s most sensitive information against unintentional deletions or malicious manipulation.
This post will discuss the practical advantages of immutable backup, what it is, how it works, and why your company requires it.
What Does Immutable Storage Mean?
Immutable storage is a way of storing data that, once written, cannot be modified. This implies that any modifications made to the data do not erase old data but produce new data.
Immutable backup storage is becoming increasingly popular in many businesses, particularly those that handle sensitive data, because it maintains data security and integrity throughout time. It ensures that data stays unchanged by authorized and unauthorized users, even if connected accounts or systems are hacked, making it a game-changing solution for protecting sensitive data.
How Does Immutable Storage Work?
Immutable storage systems are set up to employ the write once, read many (WORM) formats. This means that data may only be saved or stored once, after which it becomes irreversible (“write once”). Although system users have unlimited access to the data, they cannot overwrite it (“read many”).
On a more granular level, immutable backups may leverage the following technologies to ensure WORM compliance.
- Data Hashing: The immutable storage system uses an algorithm to establish a unique identification known as a “hash” based on the content of data, rendering it unchangeable and allowing companies to trace any attempted alterations.
- Access Controls: Most immutable backup solutions provide flexible access restrictions that limit who may write, change, and read data.
- Cryptographic Signature: Immutable backup systems may use cryptographic signatures to improve data security, maintain data integrity, and prevent tampering, as changing the data voids the signature.
- Decentralization: Immutable storage systems replicate data over numerous locations or nodes, increasing security by eliminating a single point of failure or tampering. Decentralized storage may also incorporate consensus techniques to ensure content and timestamps are consistent across all copies.
- Timestamps: Immutable storage systems create unique hashes and timestamps for data, allowing organizations to track the chronological sequence of series.
5 Compelling Reasons for Adopting Immutable Storage
Immutable storage and backup have become critical to enterprises across all industries because they:
Prevent Data from Being Altered or Tampered With
Data integrity is critical not only because it enables business executives to make educated decisions based on correct information but also because it is necessary for eDiscovery and compliance. Immutable storage ensures data integrity and authenticity by establishing an unchanging record of business activity.
Support Compliance Efforts
Speaking of compliance, many laws and regulatory frameworks, particularly those in areas such as banking, healthcare, government, and legal services, require firms to protect sensitive information and assure its legitimacy. Because immutable storage prohibits data from being edited, rewritten, or destroyed, it provides enterprises with a dependable method of conforming to data retention, audit trails, and other compliance-related requirements.
Preserve Records for Legal Holds
Any entity involved in pending litigation must place a legal hold on any pertinent electronic records. As part of this legal hold, an organization must ensure that the documents are accurate and legitimate and that they have been kept in their original format. Immutable storage ensures data integrity for this specific purpose, preserving the credibility of judicial processes and allowing firms to avoid the potentially serious consequences of presenting fabricated evidence, such as financial penalties and legal punishments.
Prevent Loss of Data Due to Device Failure or Human Error
Data loss prevention should be a top concern for enterprises to ensure data security and business continuity. Immutable backups aid in data loss prevention by guaranteeing that once written data cannot be changed or deleted – inadvertently or otherwise — resulting in a trustworthy, tamper-proof record. Immutable backups make it simple to restore data if equipment fails or other unanticipated challenges arise.
Safeguard Data Against Outside Threats
Did you know the average global cost of a data breach in 2023 is $4.45 million? This is a 15% increase over 2020, indicating that data breaches’ danger — and expense — continues to rise.
Immutable storage can save costs by preventing hackers from modifying essential information and ensuring data integrity. Many immutable storage and backup systems encrypt data and contain access restrictions to limit who can view, edit, or destroy it.
Why Does Your Organization Need Immutable Storage?
The business case for immutable storage and backup is straightforward. From protecting sensitive corporate and customer information to guaranteeing data integrity for regulatory compliance and litigation, immutable storage should be a vital component of every organization’s data management strategy, supporting and reinforcing traditional data storage methods.
Immutable storage is a “nice to have” for many firms, but it is a need in particular sectors. Let us look deeper at certain sectors that demand immutable storage and backup.
Government
Government organizations manage massive volumes of sensitive data, such as citizen records and national security information. Immutable storage ensures data integrity, dependability, and regulatory compliance. Implementing such solutions protects data against unauthorized alterations and manipulation, aiding compliance efforts and preserving public confidence.
Healthcare
Immutable storage is critical in healthcare to ensure patient confidentiality and data accuracy. It protects electronic health records and medical data, preventing unauthorized alterations and fraud while assuring accurate decision-making. This promotes excellent patient care, adherence to privacy standards, and confidence between healthcare practitioners and patients. Immutable storage and backup are required to preserve regulatory compliance and ensure the dependability of medical data.
Law Enforcement
Immutable storage is critical for law enforcement organizations to ensure the integrity and validity of evidence and data, as tampering might jeopardize a case. This guarantees that evidence such as body camera footage or digital recordings are unaltered and acceptable in court.
Education
Immutable storage is critical for educational institutions to ensure the integrity of academic records and student data, as digital platforms are increasingly employed for administrative tasks. This helps colleges comply with privacy regulations and preserve accreditation by correctly recording all educational information, such as grades, transcripts, class rosters, and course schedules.
Conclusion
Are you seeking a secure, scalable, and tamper-proof solution to store your organization’s electronic communications? Select the all-in-one archiving solution that provides a secure manner for enterprises of all sizes and industries to archive business-critical communications and crucial corporate, client, and employee data without the danger of change or unintentional deletion. From specific access restrictions and retention regulations to automated data collection and encryption, the platform ensures that even your most sensitive data is recorded accurately.
