Ransomware Protection for NAS Storage
Ransomware encrypts every file it can reach, including the shared folders on a NAS and any backup stored where the infected computer can write to it. Protection comes from copies the attacker cannot change.
What we put in place
- Snapshots on shared folders, taken on a schedule and kept for a set period
- Immutable snapshots or write-once storage where the model supports it, so copies cannot be deleted early even with an administrator password
- An off-site copy that is not reachable from office computers
- Separate administrator accounts, two-step sign-in and no default admin account
- The NAS kept off the public internet, with remote access through a VPN
- Firmware and package updates on a schedule
How recovery works
If a shared folder is encrypted, we roll it back to the last clean snapshot. That takes minutes, not days, and loses only the work done since that snapshot.
If the NAS itself is compromised or destroyed, we restore from the off-site copy to a clean unit.
Review of an existing NAS
If you already have a NAS, we can check how it is exposed: open ports, admin accounts, snapshot settings, firmware level and whether the backup can be reached by an infected PC. You get a short list of what to fix, in order of risk.
Common questions
Can ransomware encrypt a NAS?
Yes. If an infected computer has write access to a shared folder, the files in it can be encrypted. Attackers also target NAS units directly when they are exposed to the internet with weak passwords or old firmware.
Do snapshots protect against ransomware?
They protect the files, because a snapshot is a read-only record of the folder at a point in time. Immutable snapshots go further and cannot be deleted before they expire. Snapshots on the same NAS are not a substitute for an off-site copy.
Should a NAS be reachable from the internet?
Not directly. Remote access should go through a VPN or the manufacturer's relay service, with two-step sign-in, and never by forwarding the admin port from the router.