Ransomware attacks are evolving—and small firms are in the crosshairs.

In early 2025 alone, ransomware incidents jumped 84%, and attackers are getting smarter. Today, they don’t just lock your files and demand payment—they go straight for your backups.

In fact, 96% of businesses hit by ransomware had their backups targeted. It’s become standard operating procedure for attackers: find the backup first, wipe it out, then encrypt everything else.

And here’s the scary part:
Most firms think they’re protected—until they’re not.

The Illusion of Safety

If you're in accounting, law, or healthcare, you already know what’s at stake. Your clients trust you with everything from Social Security numbers and tax filings to legal documents and private medical records. A breach isn’t just disruptive—it’s a reputation crisis, a regulatory nightmare, and a potential lawsuit waiting to happen.

But even firms that invest in cybersecurity tools often overlook a crucial piece: the resilience of their backup strategy.

Here’s what we see again and again:

• Data is stored across multiple systems: local servers, cloud drives, and yes, even personal devices.

• Some key data lives outside the official practice management software—like spreadsheets, scanned documents, or custom reports.

• Many firms assume that using a cloud service means everything is automatically protected… but most SaaS platforms don’t offer immutable backups unless you configure or pay for them separately.

• And worst of all? Backups that can be accessed and changed by the same credentials as everything else.

Enter Immutable Backups: The New Baseline for Business Resilience

Immutable means exactly what it sounds like: it can’t be changed, deleted, or overwritten. Not by ransomware. Not by a rogue employee. Not even by accident.

Think of it as putting your backup in a digital vault—and throwing away the key to the delete button.

With immutable backups:

• You can restore clean data even if attackers breach your system.

• You’re protected from “silent” attacks where criminals lurk for weeks, sabotaging backups before launching ransomware.

• You comply more easily with industry-specific data protection rules, from HIPAA to IRS safeguards to ABA tech standards.

And yet...

✅ 81% of IT leaders say immutable backups are the best defense against ransomware
❌ But only 59% have them in place
⚠️ And fewer still use multi-location, isolated backup storage—a key best practice

So What Should Your Firm Be Doing?

Here’s the smart, modern approach:

1. Assume a breach is possible

No system is bulletproof. Even the best security controls can fail. Backup strategies must start with that assumption.

2. Use role-based access and MFA

Don’t let every staff member access everything. Limit backup access to only those who need it—and secure it with multi-factor authentication.

3. Deploy immutable backups

This can be done via modern storage hardware, cloud-based platforms, or a combination. What matters is that your backups are protected from deletion or modification.

4. Store backups in multiple, secure locations

If your primary system goes down—or worse, gets encrypted—you need a clean copy somewhere else, ready to restore. That means thinking beyond a single cloud provider or on-site device.

Final Thought: Your Backups Are Your Lifeline

We get it—backups aren’t exciting. They’re not a shiny new tool or a flashy new app. But when things go wrong (and increasingly, they do), your backup is the only thing standing between your business and a full shutdown.

So ask yourself:

Is your backup strategy ransomware-proof?
Or is it just a copy of your data waiting to be deleted?

Need help evaluating your backup setup?

We work with firms across Michigan to harden security, simplify compliance, and ensure your backups are truly untouchable.

Let’s make sure your last line of defense is actually a defense.

🔗 [Schedule a quick consultation]