Protecting NZ organisations from rising threats of ransomware

Immutable Data Protection

“When organisations are locked out of their data, they can’t operate, trade, pay staff or process invoices.
The costs can spiral into millions of dollars, notwithstanding the long-term customer relationship and reputational damage that can occur,” 
John Ward, Customer Experience Manager, Softsource vBridge.

DEPLOYMENT

Softsource vBridge carefully assessed the market for data backup solution providers that could deliver immutable storage, considering both public cloud, hybrid cloud and on-premises solutions.

The company selected Cloudian’s Hyperstore object storage and Object Lock data immutability technology due to its proven ability to protect data from encryption, native S3 API capabilities, scalability, value, and ability to keep data on-premises. This maintains data sovereignty by keeping the data hosted in and only accessible from within New Zealand, helping organisations to meet security and compliance needs and preferences around sensitive data.

Softsource vBridge integrated Cloudian’s technology into its Auckland and Christchurch data centres and built it on secure HPE servers. The solution, known as Indelible Backup, typically employs Veeam’s leading backup, disaster recovery and modern data protection software, with Veeam a key partner to both Softsource vBridge and Cloudian and recently integrating Cloudian’s object storage on its new Data Platform.

“Our Cloudian-based service, Indelible Backup, offers the difference between being back online

within hours or days instead of weeks or months when the worst happens,” John Ward.

SUPPORTING CYBER INSURANCE COVER

Softsource vBridge and Cloudian’s partnership expansion comes as organisations in New Zealand and around the world find it increasingly difficult to obtain cyber insurance. One report[1] highlighted insurance premiums have risen by over 28 per cent, with underwriters attempting to mitigate cyber claim losses with much stricter underwriting requirements.

Data immutability has become a key factor in Softsource vBridge customers’ ability to secure the cyber insurance they need. Further, a number of Cloudian customers report receiving a discount of up to 15 per cent on cyber insurance because of ‘robust data protection’.

“Cyber insurance is often the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff – if you need to activate it, you’ve already lost in a sense. But it’s something New Zealand organisations require. By partnering with Cloudian, we can help organisations get insurance, and we help them avoid needing to use it,” said Ward.

Speaking about the partnership, Cloudian Asia Pacific & Japan Senior Director James Wright said this kind of technology can solve a considerable risk gap many organisations aren’t aware they have until it’s too late.

“There’s a wider risk here when organisations believe there is a level of separation between the data they use and its backup copy. In reality, backup copies are vulnerable, something they only realise when they’re attacked and both datasets are compromised,” he said.

“We’ve designed this system to provide the level of assurance that New Zealand organisations need. The backups are untouchable and are even protected from rogue actors within the organisation. The backup copies can be the lifeline organisations need when their perimeter defences are taken down, and really that is a ‘when, not if’ consideration.”

[1] https://www.cnbc.com/2022/10/11/companies-are-finding-it-harder-to-get-cyber-insurance-.html