Why adopt immutable S3 storage for backups ?
The growing number of cyberattacks, particularly ransomware, has placed backups at the heart of defense strategies. Attackers no longer limit themselves to encrypting production systems; they now target backup copies to prevent any restoration.
In this context, ensuring the integrity of backups is no longer a technical option but a strategic imperative.
With this challenge clearly identified, a key question arises: how can you ensure that your backup data can neither be altered nor deleted, even in the event of internal or external compromise ?
What is the link between immutable storage and cybersecurity ?
The objective of ransomware is to exert maximum pressure. To achieve this, it seeks to destroy or encrypt backups before attacking primary systems.
If backups can be modified or deleted, they become a priority target.
By contrast, so-called “immutable” storage (WORM – Write Once Read Many) prevents any modification or deletion after data has been written, for a defined period of time.
Even an administrator with elevated privileges cannot alter the data during this retention period.
This shifts the balance of power: an attacker may compromise a system, but they cannot erase the protected history.
How do you choose an immutable S3 storage solution ?
Ideally, several criteria should be carefully assessed.
1. Ensure native immutability
The WORM mechanism must be built directly into the infrastructure itself, rather than relying on simple software configuration that could be bypassed.
2. Ensure resilience “by design”
The architecture should be redundant in order to provide high availability, even in the event of hardware or network incidents.
3. Maintain data sovereignty
Hosting all data within a single country ensures clear jurisdiction and consistent regulatory compliance.
What solutions are available ?
Two main approaches can be distinguished.
- First, standard S3 object storage solutions offered by many cloud providers. They provide flexibility and compatibility, but immutability may be optional or dependent on advanced configurations.
Drawback: misconfiguration can compromise the actual level of protection, and vendor support is often disappointing or expensive.
- Second, only S3 solutions designed from the outset around immutability and sovereignty, with local hosting and clear contractual commitments, provide real assurance.
Advantage: seamless integration (standard APIs such as Veeam, Commvault, Duplicati, etc.), high availability (Tier IV Data Center), and no foreign influence (100% hosted in Luxembourg).
What is the relationship between governance and backup ?
Backing up data goes beyond questions of storage capacity or price per TB.
It is a governance decision.
Choosing to ensure that vital data cannot be modified—even due to internal error—means establishing a clear framework: protecting critical information conditions the future.
At a time when companies are judged on their ability to protect the data of their clients, partners, and employees, immutable backup becomes a strong signal of digital maturity.
Technology alone is not enough.
It must be part of a coherent vision that aligns cybersecurity, compliance, and responsibility. Each organization must assess its risk tolerance and its required level of protection.
If stability and long-term socio-economic sustainability are also factors in (cyber)security, strengthening one’s own sovereignty contributes to the sovereignty of the Grand Duchy.