The Backup Wrap-Up

W. Curtis Preston (Mr. Backup)

Formerly known as "Restore it All," The Backup Wrap-up podcast turns unappreciated backup admins into cyber recovery heroes. After a brief analysis of backup-related news, each episode dives deep into one topic that you can use to better protect your organization from data loss, be it from accidents, disasters, or ransomware.

The Backup Wrap-up is hosted by W. Curtis Preston (Mr. Backup) and his co-host Prasanna Malaiyandi. Curtis' passion for backups began over 30 years ago when his employer, a $35B bank, lost its purchasing database – and the backups he was in charge of were worthless. After miraculously not being fired, he resolved to learn everything he could about a topic most people try to get away from. His co-host, Prasanna, saw similar tragedies from the vendor side of the house and also wanted to do whatever he could to stop that from happening to others.

A particular focus lately has been the scourge of ransomware that is plaguing IT organizations across the globe. That's why in addition to backup and disaster recovery, we also touch on information security techniques you can use to protect your backup systems from ransomware. If you'd like to go from being unappreciated to being a cyber recovery hero, this is the podcast for you.

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359 episodes
Updated Yesterday

Episodes359

Newest first

Sep 25, 2023 · 35 min
The Merging Worlds of Information Security and Data Protection
In this episode of the Restore It All podcast, W. Curtis Preston, a.k.a. Mr. Backup, and Prasanna Malaiyandi are joined by Chris Groot and Stefan Voss from N-Able, a company specializing in backup, data protection and security systems. Nable focuses on serving the needs of managed service providers to deliver excellent service to small and medium-sized businesses. They discuss the importance of catering to the "Fortune 5 million," which includes businesses with 20 to 2000 employees, highlighting the significant role that small businesses play in our economy. Tune in to learn more about Nable's approach to the cloud data protection space and their goal of making backup admins indispensable.
Sep 18, 2023 · 35 min
Why it's process, then people, then technology
In this episode of Backup Central's Restore It All podcast, the host welcomes cyber expert Rick Mishka to discuss the three aspects of IT: process, people, and technology. They explore the misconception that a new piece of gear or software is always the solution to every problem, particularly in preventing data exfiltration. Rick also shares insights into his short-form podcast, Cyber Pros, where he covers cybersecurity topics in just nine minutes. Tune in to gain valuable perspectives on backup, DR, and data protection.
Sep 11, 2023 · 34 min
The Unforeseen U-turn: Inside Microsoft 365's Backup Revolution
In this episode of Restore it All, our hosts Curtis and Prasanna delve deep into the recent significant developments in the world of data backups, with a special spotlight on Microsoft 365's about-face on native user backups. They dissect Microsoft's sudden realization of its potential revenue streams and the ramifications of its new direction. The duo also discusses the intricacies of Microsoft's new backup APIs, sharing insights into the former approaches and the strategic changes aimed at enhancing backup efficiency. They traverse the landscapes of various vendors like AWS and Salesforce, drawing parallels and noting divergences in their backup strategies. Tune in as Curtis and Prasanna ponder the pros and cons of entrusting your backup with the same vendor, emphasizing the importance of not putting all eggs in one basket. The episode beckons listeners to contemplate crucial questions concerning data storage, protection, and ransomware attacks, urging for a meticulous evaluation of Microsoft's new offerings. As they navigate these shifts, the hosts can't help but say, "I told you so," emphasizing the dire need for backing up SaaS services. The conversation leaves listeners with pertinent questions and considerations, beckoning them to anticipate the forthcoming nuances in backup offerings from giants like Microsoft and Salesforce. Join us for an episode packed with expert analysis, predictions, and a little bit of gloating, as the world of data backup takes a turn no one saw coming but was perhaps desperately needed.
Aug 28, 2023 · 39 min
Are password managers no longer an option?
In this episode, we look at the latest Ransomware Trends Report from Veeam, which gives us a view into the sobering world of ransomware attacks and the critical lessons they teach us about cyber defense. Join W. Curtis Preston (Mr. Backup) and Prasanna Malaiyandi, as they break down the key insights from the report. We explore the ruthless tactics of ransomware operators, the eye-opening stats on recovery time, and the evolving strategies of cyber insurers. From the importance of robust password management and multi-factor authentication to the strategies for safeguarding your backup server, we lay out a battle plan to protect your digital fortress. Tune in to discover why ransomware isn't just a threat—it's a wake-up call for businesses everywhere to bolster their defenses and emerge stronger against the rising tide of cyber threats. Your data's future might just depend on it.
Aug 21, 2023 · 49 min
Identity Orchestration: Simplifying Multi-Cloud Identity Management
In this episode, W. Curtis Preston and Prasanna Malaiyandi are joined by Eric Olden, the CEO of Strata Identity. With over 25 years of experience in the cybersecurity industry, Eric sheds light on the concept of Identity Orchestration and how it addresses the complexities of modern identity management in multi-cloud environments. He discusses the evolution of technology consumption, the philosophy of "bought not sold," and the creation of a new product category in the world of identity management. Eric explains how Strata Identity's platform acts as an abstraction layer, allowing organizations to seamlessly integrate and switch between different identity providers without rewriting applications. He also shares insights on modernization, just-in-time provisioning, and the benefits of the open free IDQL standard. Don't miss this engaging discussion about identity orchestration and its role in simplifying the management of identities across diverse cloud ecosystems.
Aug 14, 2023 · 1 hr 4 min
Red team leader shares how to think like a hacker
Our guest this week is a specialist at offensive cybersecurity; that is, they keep you safe by attacking you and showing you your vulnerabilities. They're a red team. We've got the leader of their red team, Duanne Laflotte, to help us understand how hackers think – and what we can do to stop them. He confirmed some of the recommendations we often make (Ahem: password managers good), but showed us some defenses aren't that helpful. A particularly relevant part to our backup audience is what he told us about the vulnerabilities of our backup system. At least one of them Mr. Backup had never thought of. Duanne is fun and scary all at the same time. I know this will be one of our top episodes this year.
Aug 7, 2023 · 57 min
Blue team stories from the cyber attack trenches
Nothing tells the story like a good story, right? This week we have Mike Saylor, the CEO of Black Swan, a cybersecurity company. Boy, has he been in the trenches. He tells some great stories about responding to cyber attacks. They're great stories and he's a great storyteller. We also learn about FBI Infragard, a partnership between the FBI and the private sector. We hope you enjoy the episode.
Jul 31, 2023 · 55 min
Should you disclose your cyber attack?
This week the SEC has made a new rule that publicly traded companies must disclose any cyber attacks within four days. What if you're not a publicly traded company in the US? Should you reveal what happened to you? We bring in a wireless cyber security expert, Scott Schober of Berkeley Varitronics Systems, to talk about this topic. Closely related is also what should you do when you personally make a big mistake. Should you tell your boss? What if you're a boss and someone makes a mistake? How should you respond? We get into all of this and more in the week's exciting episode.
Jul 24, 2023 · 45 min
Backup security is abysmal, says backup security expert
During this recording, Mr. Backup asked our guest how many backup systems that he had looked at had at least one critical security flaw, he said pretty much 100%. Holy. Cow. Doron Pinhas runs a company called Continuity Software, that does security assessments of storage and backup and recovery systems. They got the permission of some of their customers to anonymize and publish their findings, and the results were abysmal. (You can read the report yourself here.) He said it was extremely rare to find a backup environment that was properly configured from a security standpoint. He then went on to explain the kinds of things they look for, and how you can secure your storage and backup and recovery environments. He also explained how such environments are typically overlooked by most security scans! He said they have a lot of resources on their website to help you, and they also have automated tools that will ensure you stay secure once you zipped things up. If I were you, I'd check out those resources right now!
Jul 17, 2023 · 1 hr 1 min
Your backup product is probably lying to you
Krista Macomber, analyst from the Futurum Group, joins us this week to talk about a number of things, but one thing really bubbled up to the top: co-opting of marketing terms. That is, it's probably using terms to describe their product, because they think you want to hear them. Two big ones these days are "air gapped" and "immutable." Krista and Mr. Backup talk about what these terms really mean – and whether or not your product should be using them to describe their product. You may not get any answers from this episode, but your darn sure will get some questions to back to your backup vendor with.
Jul 10, 2023 · 1 hr 2 min
Former Green Beret advises us on Cyber Security
Today we are proud to have as our guest, Zach Fuller, a founding partner of the Silent Sector, a cybersecurity firm -- and a former Green Beret who served in combat. We talk a little about how his service made him the person he is today, and how it lead him ultimately into helping people protect their own data. We talk about his top few things he wishes people would do to secure their environments (in addition to Mr. Backup's usual suggestions of password management, MFA, and patch management). we found Zach a very engaging person, and we know you'll learn a lot.
Jun 26, 2023 · 1 hr 1 min
How to foster a culture of recovery in your organization
Our guest this week (Jim Love from the Hashtag Trending podcast and IT World Canada) touched on something we thought was profound. He felt that some organizations had what he called a "culture of recovery," meaning that they took recovery into account in all aspects of the org. He explained how he fostered this in companies where he worked, and how you can do the same. We also covered generative AI, and he shared several other tips from his many years in the business. Learn the old ways!
Jun 19, 2023 · 51 min
How to PROPERLY back up your iPhone (iCloud is not a backup!)
iCloud is not a backup; it is a synchronization tool. If you delete things on your phone, it deletes them in iCloud. iCloud is not a backup. In fact, if you have storage optimization turned on, the high-resolution verion of your photos is stored in only one place. If you delete it, it's gone forever. Mr. Backup tries tries three different ways to back up your iPhone, and finally settled on idrive. iDrive was the only solution we found that worked for both iPhone and Android (including if you turned on optimized storage). If you'd like to try it, make sure to use the link below. Listeners to the podcast get 90% off their first year using the following link (We will also get a referral fee): https://www.idrive.com/idrive/o/p/backupcentral/partner90
Jun 12, 2023 · 56 min
Cyber expert not happy with state of cybersecurity today
This week we talk with Eric Jeffery, a cybersecurity SE and host of the Cyber Security Grey Beard podcast, and he is just a little miffed about how organizations are responding to cyber attacks today. It's not so much about how they respond to the attack itself; it's how they communicate what happened to the public – if at all. He's submitting what happened at the LA Unified School District as his case in point. He's a bit fired up, so this will be a fun one.
Jun 5, 2023 · 55 min
How do you authenticate with all new hardware?
Imagine you're a small business or household that just lost everything in a fire, and your phones, ipads, and laptops went up in flames too. Where do you start? You've got a cloud-based password manager (e.g. Dashlane, OnePassword, KeyPass) and MFA system (e.g. Google Authenticator, Authy). How do you authenticate yourself with these systems if you have all new hardware? That's what we're talking about in this episode. We reference this great previous episode about being prepared for disasters: https://www.backupcentral.com/how-to-prepare-for-an-emergency-at-home-and-work/
May 22, 2023 · 42 min
You could lose access to iCloud account data forever!
There was a shocking article by Joanna Stern of the Wall Street Journal about how you are a simple bar trick away from losing access to all your photos (and some money) forever. All they need to do is steal your iPhone after seeing you type in your passcode, and they can lock you out of your account forever. 1. This is why we back up stuff and 2. There is a way to stop this. I'm not yet sure how vulnerable Android folks are to the same problem. If I've piqued your interest, this is the episode for you. Here are two YouTube videos where the WSJ talks about this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUYODQB_2wQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCfb9Wizq9Q
May 15, 2023 · 56 min
How to back up and recover a database (Backup to Basics series)
Have we got a packed episode for you. This week in our continued Backup to Basics series, we dive deep into the various options for backing up and recovering databases, along with the pros and cons of each. Want to figure out the best way to back up your traditional or modern database? This is your episode. As usual, Mr. Backup and Prasanna also manage to make it fun. This is a great episode and we think you'll enjoy it.
May 8, 2023 · 1 hr 2 min
Flash expert schools Mr. Backup
A few weeks ago, Mr. Backup (W. Curtis Preston) said he didn't understand why people used flash for backups. He said it was overkill. A few days later, Howard Marks of Vast (friend of the pod) took issue with that statement, and asked for the chance to defend Vast's title, so to speak. Howard is a friend of the pod and we were happy to say yes. We also take the opportunity to get an update on Vast, and discuss their data reduction techniques in more detail. Bonus points if you get the cover art reference.
May 2, 2023 · 47 min
What are SIEM, SOAR, EDR, XDR? Are they available as a service?
Are you doing all you can to stop ransomware attacks before they happen, or kill them the moment they show up? Have you looked into this and found yourself swimming in alphabet soup (SIEM, SOAR, EDR, XDR)? Have you looked at some of these tools and found them to be prohibitively expensive or too complex? This is the episode for you. We have Dez Rock, CEO of SIEMonster, a SIEM/SOAR/XDR as a service company. She helps us weed our way through these acronyms, and then tells us about how SIEMonster (pronounced sea-monster) is bringing this important technology to companies of all sizes.
Apr 24, 2023 · 55 min
What can you learn from the LastPass hack?
Last year LastPass suffered two hacks that left their customer's data exposed. What can you learn from this event, even if you're not a LastPass customer? We use this hack as an example of what your company should do (or not do) if it ever suffers such a hack. We also talk about password managers, and what this hack means to those who use them. You do use one, right? This is a great episode, chock full of information. We hope you enjoy it.