To thwart ransomware, why couldn’t a company back up their data to a separate computer, then disconnect it?

Backing up data to an offline device can indeed help protect against ransomware attacks by providing a secure copy of the data that can be restored in case of an attack. However, there are some challenges to consider:

1. Frequency of backups: If backups are not done frequently enough, there can be a risk of losing recent data in case of an attack. Regular backups are essential to minimize data loss.

2. Manual backups: Depending on manual backups can introduce the risk of human error, such as forgetting to perform the backup, backing up incomplete data, or not following a consistent process.

3. Physical security: Offline devices used for backups need to be physically secured to prevent unauthorized access or theft, which can compromise the backup data.

4. Backup storage capacity: Ensuring that there is enough storage capacity on the offline device to store all the necessary data can be a challenge, particularly for companies with large amounts of data.

5. Backup validation and testing: It is important to validate and test backups regularly to ensure that the data is properly backed up and can be successfully restored in case of a ransomware attack.

In conclusion, while backing up data to an offline device is a good practice for protecting against ransomware, it is crucial to address the challenges mentioned above to ensure the effectiveness of the backup strategy.