By providing a secure, scalable and cost-effective recovery solution, software company Commvault Systems is empowering organisations in South Africa and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region to better protect their data and maintain business continuity in the face of increasing cyberthreats.

With ongoing innovation and strategic partnerships, Commvault’s cloud-based Cleanroom Recovery technology – a “new era” for this concept – offers a secure and efficient method for organisations to recover from cyber incidents, ensuring minimal disruption and safeguarding data integrity.

Designed to address the increasing frequency and sophistication of cyberattacks, Commvault Cloud’s Cleanroom Recovery system provides a dedicated and isolated environment that ensures data and systems can be restored without contamination from ongoing threats.

This is particularly critical in South Africa, where ransomware and other cyberattacks have become alarmingly common, says Commvault SADC regional manager Graham Brown, who explains that the cleanroom approach involves creating a cyber-resilient space, separate from primary production facilities, where affected systems can be securely recovered.

“By isolating the recovery environment, Commvault mitigates the risk of reinfection, allowing businesses to resume operations swiftly and safely,” he notes.

South Africa and the broader SADC region, in particular, face unique challenges in adopting advanced cyber-resilience measures, considering that access to technology can be limited, especially in smaller markets.

However, Brown highlights that Commvault Cloud Cleanroom Recovery democratises access to robust cyber-resilience tools, making them available to organisations of all sizes.

This is achieved through strategic partnerships with industry leaders such as IT corporation Microsoft and cybersecurity company Palo Alto Networks, which enhance the functionality and reliability of the cleanroom technology.

These partnerships enable seamless integration with various security and management tools, providing a comprehensive approach to cyber resilience. For instance, integrating with Palo Alto Networks’ Cortex allows for advanced threat detection and forensic analysis, reducing dwell time and improving overall security posture.

These integrations also facilitate better communication between security and IT teams, ensuring that any anomalies detected by Commvault’s systems are promptly addressed.

By leveraging cloud-based platforms, Brown says Commvault provides scalable, cost-effective solutions that are crucial for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as these organisations often lack the resources to maintain redundant systems and face significant challenges in implementing traditional recovery solutions.

Commvault Cloud Cleanroom Recovery solution, with its cloud integration, therefore offers an affordable alternative that does not compromise on security or efficiency.

“Our goal is to make advanced recovery solutions accessible to all businesses, regardless of their size. By partnering with leading technology providers, we ensure that our clients benefit from the best in cloud technology and cybersecurity, creating a resilient infrastructure that can withstand the most sophisticated attacks,” Brown tells Engineering News.

Benefits

The move to cloud-based cleanroom recovery offers numerous advantages over traditional on-premises solutions, according to Brown.

One of the most significant benefits is scalability, he says.

Cloud platforms such as Microsoft Azure allow for infinite scalability, enabling organisations to adjust resources as needed without incurring excessive costs. This flexibility is particularly beneficial for managing the aftermath of a cyber incident, where the ability to quickly scale-up recovery efforts can make a critical difference.

Additionally, the cost savings associated with cloud-based recovery are substantial.

Organisations no longer need to invest heavily in secondary data centres or redundant infrastructure. Instead, they can leverage the cloud’s pay-as-you-go model, reducing total cost of ownership and making advanced recovery capabilities accessible to a broader range of businesses, Brown highlights.

Another key feature of this solution is its AI-driven clean point validation. This technology ensures that the data being recovered is consistent, untampered, and free from any residual malware.

The validation process mimics the clinical precision of a surgical cleanroom, ensuring that only clean data is restored, Brown says, noting that this not only enhances the reliability of the recovery process but also boosts confidence in the integrity of the recovered data.

Industry Applications & Strategic Partnerships

While the cleanroom recovery technology is designed to be universally applicable, certain industries stand to benefit significantly, Brown says, citing financial services, public sector entities, and critical infrastructure providers such as oil and gas companies as prime candidates for this advanced recovery solution.

These sectors often deal with highly sensitive data and face stringent regulatory requirements, making robust cyber-resilience measures essential, he explains.

In addition to large enterprises, SMEs are also a key target market for Commvault.

“The flexibility and affordability of the cloud-based cleanroom recovery make it an ideal solution for smaller organisations that may not have extensive IT resources. By providing a scalable, cost-effective recovery option, Commvault is helping to level the playing field and ensure that businesses of all sizes can achieve high levels of cyber resilience,” Brown says.

Looking ahead, Commvault plans to continue enhancing its cleanroom recovery capabilities.

As the technology evolves, Commvault aims to provide even more comprehensive solutions that address the full spectrum of recovery needs, from data and virtual machines to networks and authentication systems.

For organisations looking to implement cleanroom recovery solutions, Brown recommends adopting best practices such as immutability and air gap protection.

“Ensuring that data is untouchable and maintaining a secure gap between primary systems and recovery environments are critical steps in achieving effective cyber resilience,” he avers.

Additionally, leveraging Commvault’s licence portability can also help organisations maximise their existing investments while implementing advanced recovery capabilities.

“Our commitment is to continuously innovate and improve our solutions to meet the evolving needs of our clients,” he concludes.