Since ransomware attacks work by encrypting or exfiltrating sensitive data, often paralyzing entire systems, ransomware-proof storage solutions, such as immutable backups and air-gapped storage, ensure that even if attackers breach a network, they can’t alter or delete protected data.

Object First Inc. addresses this threat with its out-of-the-box Immutability solution, delivering plug-and-play, ransomware-proof storage with zero setup hassle, according to Sterling Wilson (pictured), Field Chief Technology Officer at Object First. 

“Ootbi stands for out-of-the-box Immutability, and that is what you get when you buy an Object First secure appliance,” Wilson said. “Threat actors that come in that steal domain admin accounts, that steal the highest level of credentials, go directly for the backup software. We wanted to prevent that. We do that with zero access to root. We provide the security that is third-party tested that the Veeam users today need.”

Wilson spoke with theCUBE’s Christophe Bertrand at the Data Protection & AI Summit, during an exclusive broadcast on theCUBE, SiliconANGLE Media’s livestreaming studio. They explored how Object First’s ransomware-proof storage solutions — such as Ootbi — aim to make data immovable to attackers. (* Disclosure below.)

Delving deeper into Object First’s ransomware-proof storage solutions

Object First is pioneering ransomware-proof storage for Veeam architectures by combining robust security, simplicity, high performance and broad channel reach. These remedies are achieved through purpose-built solutions, such as Ootbi, according to Wilson.

“We are ransomware proof, on-premises storage purposefully built for Veeam Software,” he said. “We are a very interesting company, and part of those reasons are our founders, Ratmir Timashev and Andrei Baranov; this is their third startup, their second being Veeam Software. When they figured out what they were going to do with their next foray, it was really to double down and make sure that Veeam architectures, Veeam admins [and] Veeam users have the highest level of security today to protect their data and their backups from ransomware attacks.”

The Smart Object Storage API is pivotal in ensuring seamless integration between Object First and Veeam solutions, especially for ransomware-proof data protection and backup management. By enforcing immutability policies directly at the storage layer, SOSAPI strengthens data resilience and ensures backups remain tamper-proof, according to Wilson.

“We were written directly for Veeam, and the founders are the same founders, so there is definitely some intelligence there,” he said. “We have direct integration using the best [application programming interfaces], and even an API that we’ve created together called the SOSAPI, which is the Smart Object Storage API. We leverage it in its full amount, meaning it is an open API that any of the storage vendors can use. We use it intelligently, not to only move the data efficiently, but to also place the data across a clustered environment as data grows.”

Here’s the complete video interview, part of SiliconANGLE’s and theCUBE’s coverage of the Data Protection & AI Summit: 

(* Disclosure: Object First Inc. sponsored this segment of theCUBE. Neither Object First nor other sponsors have editorial control over content on theCUBE or SiliconANGLE.)

Photo: SiliconANGLE