The threat of ransomware and cyberattacks has made data protection a critical priority for organizations.  As a result, organizations’ awareness and adoption of Zero Trust principles are increasing. However, while backups are the last line of defense against attacks, many backup solutions do not fully embrace these principles—leaving critical backup data vulnerable. Object First addresses this gap by providing a secure, simple, and powerful defense against ransomware attacks targeting backup data that ensures backup data security and recoverability.

Built on the latest Zero Trust Data Resilience (ZTDR) principles, Object First’s Ootbi (Out-of-the-Box Immutability) appliance seamlessly integrates with Veeam Backup & Replication to provide truly immutable backup storage. Ootbi delivers unbreakable object storage in a hardened appliance form factor that ensures security is implemented throughout its software, operating system, and hardware. By doing so, it provides a resilient defense against ransomware attacks, which recent data shows, at least 96% of the time, target backup data.

ZTDR principles, which emphasize segmentation, multiple resilience zones, and immutability, are fully embodied in Ootbi’s design, ensuring that backup data remains secure even during a breach. Unlike traditional monolithic or direct-attached storage solutions, which fail to meet Zero Trust requirements due to their lack of separation between software and storage, Ootbi delivers true immutability and minimizes the blast radius of potential attacks.

Ootbi’s automated backend operations and limited administrative access reduce vulnerabilities and simplify management. The ZTDR architecture separates Backup Software and Backup Storage, minimizing risk and ensuring robust data protection. Utilizing proprietary object storage operating on a customized hardened Linux system and with a strict “zero access to root” policy, Ootbi effectively prevents external attacks and internal compromises, guaranteeing the immutability of critical backup data.

Object First’s commitment to security is highlighted by its proactive adoption of multi-factor authentication (MFA) and stringent Identity and Access Management (IAM) policies. These measures are vital for ensuring that access to backup data is strictly controlled and monitored. The alignment with the Zero Trust principle of least privilege is evident in Ootbi’s architecture, where even administrators have restricted capabilities, limited to creating and managing S3 keys and buckets without broader system access. This design choice enhances security and simplifies backup storage management, which is beneficial in environments where IT resources are already stretched thin.

The solution is further enhanced by its deep integration with Veeam, providing compatibility with Veeam’s latest features, such as the Smart Object Storage API (SOS API), which enables optimal data ingestion speeds and efficient storage management. Ootbi’s exclusive support for Veeam allows Object First to achieve ingest speeds of up to 4GB/s on a four-node cluster, making it an ideal solution for mid-enterprise backup needs. This level of performance is paired with the simplicity of deployment; Ootbi can be installed in under 15 minutes, and its ongoing management requires no security expertise, freeing IT teams to focus on other critical tasks.

Object storage is the future due to its security, scalability, and reliability. At Object First, we deliver effortless, ransomware-proof data protection that ensures businesses never have to pay a ransom for their data. — David Bennett, CEO

Object First’s commitment to excellence has been recognized with several industry awards, including the Storage Awards’ Immutable Storage Company of the Year and CRN’s Cloud 100 (2024). These accolades highlight the company’s leadership in the data resilience space and its dedication to providing top-tier, ransomware-proof storage solutions that empower organizations to protect their data against evolving cyber threats. With its vision of creating a world where no one has to pay a ransom for their data, the company is setting the standard for secure, simple, and powerful backup solutions tailored for Veeam.

As it looks towards the future, Object First plans to expand its market presence, particularly within the North American, Latin American, and EMEA regions, while continuing to innovate and enhance its storage solutions. It’s empowering enterprises to protect their most valuable asset—their data—against the evolving threat of cyberattacks. In a world where cyber threats are growing more sophisticated by the day, Object First offers a solution that is not only resilient but also easy to deploy and manage with no security expertise required, making data protection accessible and effective for organizations of all sizes.