Keeping Your Backups Isolated From Your Production Network

By Marco Alcala March 12, 2023

There are several ways to keep a local backup copy isolated from the production network. Here are some suggestions:

Use a physically separate network: One way to isolate the backup network from the production network is to physically separate them. This can be achieved by creating a separate network segment or VLAN, which is not connected to the production network. This will ensure that there is no communication between the backup network and the production network.
Use a separate backup serve that is not a member of your production domain: Another way to isolate the backup copy from the production network is to use a separate backup server. This server should not be connected to the production network and should only be accessible from the backup network. This will ensure that the backup data is not exposed to the production network.
Use backup software with built-in isolation features: Many backup software solutions have built-in features that allow you to isolate the backup copy from the production network. For example, some backup software allows you to encrypt the backup data, which ensures that it cannot be accessed by anyone outside of the backup network.
Implement strict access controls: You should implement strict access controls to ensure that only authorized personnel have access to the backup data. This can include limiting access to the backup network, requiring strong passwords zero-trust local area network policies, and multi-factor authentication, and monitoring access logs.
Test the backup regularly: It is important to test the backup regularly to ensure that it is functioning as expected. This should include testing the restore process and verifying that the backup data is complete and accurate.

By implementing these measures, you can ensure that your local backup copy is isolated from the production network and that your backup data is secure.

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Last updated on March 12, 2023

Marco Alcala is the founder and CEO of Alcala Consulting, founded on July 1, 1997. He started with no capital, no employees and no plan – other than an unwavering belief that he could help his future clients use technology to make their businesses more efficient and successful. Since then, the company has grown to include offices in Pasadena, CA, and San Antonio, TX. They primarily serve mature and rapidly growing businesses looking to have IT and cybersecurity programs in place that simply run like clockwork. Marco attributes his team’s success to its ability to lead across a broad range of competencies, including application development, document imaging, enterprise resource planning, customer relationship management, infrastructure support, cybersecurity and help desk. It’s an extensive list – but Marco makes sure to remind clients that there’s no system that’s 100% secure. Criminals are going to find a way to break through your defenses one way or another, and you need to be able to detect those breaches as soon as they happen. That’s why it’s so important to identify someone within your company to serve as a point person in charge of cybersecurity. With larger firms, they even hire a chief security officer – but if you’re a smaller firm, that can run $300,000 per year or more. Because not everyone can afford that, Alcala is now offering that service on a shared, virtual basis. That way you don’t have to worry about cybersecurity because there’s somebody owning that responsibility and making sure the company’s protected in the way it should be. They even help clients who are applying for cyber liability insurance. Clients provide Marco with the application, and he answers everything and explains exactly what those responses mean in terms of associated policies and technology. And if he does discover a missing security control, he works with them to make sure it’s rapidly put into place. Marco graduated in 1997 with a bachelor of science in computer science from California State College, Northridge. In addition, he has since earned an extensive list of additional computer industry certifications, including: • Microsoft Certified Professional • VMWare Certified Professional – Data Center Virtualization • VMWare Technical Sales Professional Accreditation • VMWare Technical Sales Professional – Desktop Virtualization Accreditation When he’s not diving deeper into technology, Marco also loves dancing salsa and bachata – and when throwing a party, he’ll even pull out his conga drums and invite his guests to play along. Also into health and fitness, he’ll hit the gym early in the morning before heading off to work. He also enjoys mowing his lawn while listening to a good book on Audible. Marco loves to travel, and he adores his children, son Mark Anthony and daughter Isabella.