In Azure Backup strategies, what is crucial for recovering from ransomware attacks?

Performing offline backups to Azure Data Box is crucial for recovering from ransomware attacks because it provides an isolated and secure means of preserving data. Ransomware can compromise data stored in typical connected environments, making it impossible to recover normal backup solutions that are accessible online. With offline backups, the data is securely stored in a physical device that is not connected to the network, ensuring that it is immune to online attacks. This method allows organizations to recover their systems without having to contend with the malicious encryption or data manipulation that occurs during a ransomware attack.

Regularly scheduled backups to local drives, while good practice, may not be sufficient as those drives can also be compromised if they are connected to the network at the time of the attack. Encrypting all backup data is important for security but does not offer a safeguard against the ransomware itself, which may still interfere with access to encrypted data if backups are not stored securely. Additionally, retention policies that only keep data for a month can be detrimental because if an organization realizes they've been attacked after that period, they may have no viable backups to restore from. In contrast, offline backups like those on Azure Data Box provide a reliable way to ensure data recovery even after a serious data compromise event.