Disaster Recovery-as-a-Service (DRaaS) is a proven solution to the challenges associated with traditional disaster recovery. In a traditional DR environment, organizations must implement and maintain a secondary site as a backup in the event of disaster. The secondary site requires significant upfront investment in hardware, software and physical infrastructure, and can be complex to manage.
DRaaS eliminates that requirement by utilizing a service provider’s infrastructure. The provider replicates applications and data to a secure, offsite location, often a cloud environment. If a disaster occurs, DRaaS solutions can automatically switch operations to the secondary environment (failover) and restore operations to primary systems (failback) when they become operational.
Security is an often overlooked element of DRaaS. When organizations transfer mission-critical data to a DRaaS environment, they need to ensure that data is protected. The Verteks DRaaS for Datto solution provides layers of protection that many other DRaaS offerings lack.
Threats to DRaaS Environments
DRaaS has become especially critical due to ransomware attacks. If an attacker encrypts an organization’s data, the DRaaS environment is a lifeline that ensures operational continuity.
That is, if the DRaaS environment also has strong protections against ransomware. Ransomware attacks often infect backups and can infiltrate DRaaS sites if they aren’t properly protected. Corrupted data can be replicated over clean data if checks aren’t in place.
DRaaS can have other vulnerabilities as well. Without strong access controls and encryption, sensitive data can be vulnerable to exposure and exfiltration. Multi-cloud environments and other shared infrastructure can expose data to other tenants. DRaaS is also vulnerable to malicious insiders who misuse legitimate access to steal or corrupt data.
Misconfigurations are a common source of security risks with any cloud service, and DRaaS is no exception. Many DRaaS providers also rely on third-party services that may have weak APIs that attackers can exploit to gain unauthorized access.
Essential Elements of DRaaS Security
Several key elements are crucial to effective DRaaS security. Data must be encrypted both in transit (while being transferred) and at rest (while stored) using strong encryption such as AES 256. DRaaS providers should implement immutable backups, which cannot be altered or deleted, to protect against ransomware and other malicious attacks that could compromise backups. The provider should also test and validate backups regularly to ensure they are accurate, uncorrupted and can be successfully restored.
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) adds a crucial layer of security, requiring users to provide multiple forms of verification for access. Role-based access control (RBAC) limits user permissions based on their specific job roles and responsibilities. Users only gain access to the data and functionalities they need, minimizing the risk of unauthorized access or data manipulation.
A VPN or private link should be used to connect to the DRaaS provider’s site and transfer data to the DRaaS environment. The provider should also have robust network security controls such as firewalls and intrusion detection/prevention systems to protect against threats. Continuous monitoring of the DRaaS environment should be in place to detect anomalies and potential security incidents in real time.
The Verteks DRaaS for Datto Solution
When selecting a DRaaS provider, it’s important to thoroughly evaluate the provider’s security practices and incident response policies. Compliance certifications such as SOC 2, ISO 27001 and HIPAA also help ensure that the DRaaS solution meets relevant regulations and industry standards.
The Verteks DRaaS for Datto solution checks all the boxes when it comes to security. The Datto platform is known for the strength of its security measures, including end-to-end AES 256 encryption and an immutable cloud platform. Verteks layers our managed security services onto this foundation, with additional security controls and around-the-clock monitoring. We customize each solution based on the customer’s business and compliance requirements.
With the right security measures, DRaaS can significantly enhance your security posture while minimizing the risks associated with data loss and downtime. Let Verteks help you take advantage of DRaaS for Datto to protect your mission-critical data and keep your operations running in a disaster.
