As a follow-up to my last article, “Lab View: How to Air-Gap Veeam without breaking operation,” in this article, I will discuss common mistakes with Air-Gap and how they break you
Air-gapping your backups is one of the smartest moves you can make.
Done right, it protects you from:
- Ransomware
- Insider threats
- Accidental deletion
- Catastrophic failure
But here’s the reality:
Most air-gap strategies fail—not because they don’t exist, but because they’re implemented wrong.
I’ve seen environments with “air-gapped backups” that looked secure on paper…
and completely fell apart during recovery.
Let’s break down the most common mistakes—and why they matter.
1. “We Have Immutability—We’re Good”
This is the #1 misunderstanding.
Immutability is powerful.
But it’s not the same as an air gap.
The mistake:
- Relying solely on immutable storage
- Assuming it covers all attack scenarios
The problem:
- Credentials can still be compromised
- Access paths still exist
- Attackers can still disrupt operations
The fix:
Combine immutability with:
- Network segmentation
- Access control
- Backup copies
Immutability protects data—not access.
2. No Real Separation from Production
If your backup infrastructure sits on the same network as everything else…
…it’s not air-gapped.
The mistake:
- Flat network design
- Shared access between production and backup systems
The problem:
- Lateral movement is easy
- Compromise spreads quickly
The fix:
- Segment backup infrastructure
- Restrict communication paths
- Limit which systems can reach repositories
If attackers can reach it easily, it’s not isolated.
3. Overcomplicating the Design
Some environments go too far in the name of security.
The mistake:
- Too many layers
- Too many manual steps
- Overly complex access processes
The result:
- Nobody understands the system
- Recovery becomes slow and error-prone
- Processes don’t get tested
The fix:
Keep it:
- Simple
- Documented
- Repeatable
If it’s too complex to use under pressure, it will fail under pressure.
4. Not Testing Recovery Through the Air Gap
This is where theory meets reality.
And reality usually wins.
The mistake:
- Backups are isolated… but never tested
- Recovery paths are assumed
The problem:
- Missing permissions
- Network restrictions
- Performance limitations
The fix:
Regularly test:
- Restoring from isolated storage
- Accessing backups across segments
- Full recovery workflows
An untested air gap is just a guess.
5. Backup Copies That Aren’t Actually Isolated
Backup copy jobs are great—but only if they’re truly separate.
The mistake:
- Copies stored in the same environment
- Same credentials, same access paths
The problem:
- One compromise affects everything
- No real redundancy
The fix:
- Store copies in a different location
- Use separate credentials and access controls
- Prefer object storage or offsite repositories
Copies only matter if they’re independent.
6. Ignoring Identity and Access Control
This is where many air-gap strategies quietly fail.
The mistake:
- Shared admin accounts
- No MFA
- Excessive permissions
The problem:
If an attacker gets admin access:
- They don’t need to break the air gap
- They just walk through it
The fix:
- Enforce MFA
- Use role-based access
- Separate backup admin accounts
Identity is often the weakest link in an air-gap design.
7. No Offline or Last-Resort Copy
Not every environment needs this—but many should have it.
The mistake:
- Relying only on online or nearline backups
The problem:
- If everything connected is compromised, you have no fallback
The fix:
- Maintain an offline or semi-offline copy
- Consider tape or periodically disconnected storage
This is your safety net when everything else fails.
8. Performance Is Ignored
Security often gets all the attention.
Performance gets overlooked.
The mistake:
- Air-gapped storage that’s too slow
- No testing of restore speed
The problem:
- Recovery takes too long
- Business impact increases
The fix:
- Test restore performance
- Balance security with usability
- Keep recent backups accessible when needed
Protected data that takes too long to restore is still a problem.
9. No Clear Recovery Process
Even with a perfect air-gap design, you still need a plan.
The mistake:
- No documented recovery steps
- No defined ownership
- No clear process
The problem:
- Delays during incidents
- Confusion under pressure
- Increased downtime
The fix:
Create a runbook:
- How to access backups
- How to restore systems
- Who is responsible
10. Treating Air-Gap as a One-Time Project
This might be the most dangerous mistake.
The mindset:
“We implemented it. We’re done.”
The reality:
- Environments change
- Access evolves
- New risks appear
The fix:
- Review regularly
- Update as needed
- Test continuously
Air-gapping isn’t a feature—it’s an ongoing practice.
Bringing It All Together
A strong air-gap strategy isn’t just about isolation.
It’s about balance:
- Security vs usability
- Protection vs recovery
- Complexity vs clarity
The best designs are:
- Layered
- Tested
- Understandable
- Repeatable
Final Thought
Air-gapping is supposed to reduce risk.
But when it’s done wrong, it introduces a different kind of risk:
The risk that you can’t recover when you need to.
And that’s the one that matters most.
Because in the end, it’s not about how well your backups are protected.
It’s about whether they can bring you back.