Immutable storage is a digital vault that protects data by rendering it untouchable and perpetual, regardless of the timeframe. This storage ensures your information remains pristine, unaltered, and undeletable, upholding its original state.
Initially grounded in hardware forms like read-only media, immutable storage has evolved, especially with the advent of cloud technology, offering robust protection for critical data against modern cyber threats and human errors.
At its core, immutable storage operates on a Write Once, Read Many (WORM) model, establishing a fortress around stored data by locking it against alterations after its initial save.
When data enters this cyber lockbox, it's as if it's sealed within a time capsule with a set or indefinite preservation period. Beyond encryption for safeguarding data at rest, such systems incorporate strict access controls, ensuring only authorized eyes can view, not alter or erase.
This mechanism, for example, bolsters defense against ransomware, facilitating disaster recovery and ensuring easy data retrieval, marking its vital role in long-term data protection strategies for organizations.
In data security, immutable storage is a critical pillar, offering two primary forms: cloud-based and on-premise.
Each storage option caters to different organizational needs but shares the common thread of unalterable data preservation.
- Cloud Immutable Storage:
Offered by cloud storage providers, this type enables scalable, remote data protection. Services like Amazon S3 Glacier and Microsoft Azure Blob Archive are prime examples of platforms where data is safeguarded in a cloud environment, accessible anywhere, and shielded from local disasters.
- On-Premise Immutable Storage:
Encompasses solutions like WORM tape and disk storage, where data is stored locally on physical media. Such on-premise solutions offer control and quick access within an organization's premises while adhering to the immutable principles of write-once-read-many, where data cannot be overwritten once stored.
