Thinking Like a Hacker: Red Team Cyber Security Strategies

The Backup Wrap-Up

#Tech #Backup Centrals Restore

35:19

We’ve turned intuition into a buzzword—flattened it into a slogan, a gut feeling, or a vague whisper we don’t always know how to hear. But what if intuition is so much more? What if it's one of the most powerful tools we have—and we’ve just forgotten how to use it? In this episode, I’m joined by Hrund Gunnsteinsdóttir , Icelandic thought leader, filmmaker, and author of InnSæi: Icelandic Wisdom for Turbulent Times . Hrund has spent over 20 years studying and teaching the science and art of intuition through her TED Talk, Netflix documentary ( InnSæi: The Power of Intuition ), and global work on leadership, innovation, and inner knowing. Together, we explore what intuition really is (hint: not woo-woo), how to cultivate it in a culture obsessed with logic and overthinking, and why your ability to listen to yourself might be the most essential skill you can develop. In This Episode, We Cover: ✅ Why we’ve misunderstood intuition—and how to reclaim it ✅ Practical ways to strengthen your intuitive muscle ✅ What Icelandic wisdom teaches us about inner knowing ✅ How to use intuition during uncertainty and decision-making ✅ Why trusting yourself is an act of rebellion (and power) Intuition isn’t magic—it’s a deep, internal guidance system that already exists inside you. The question is: are you listening? Connect with Hrund: Website: www.hrundgunnsteinsdottir.com TedTalk: https://www.ted.com/talks/hrund_gunnsteinsdottir_listen_to_your_intuition_it_can_help_you_navigate_the_future?utm_campaign=tedspread&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedcomshare Newsletter: https://hrundgunnsteinsdottir.com/blog/ LI: www.linkedin.com/in/hrundgunnsteinsdottir IG: https://www.instagram.com/hrundgunnsteinsdottir/ Book: InnSæi: Icelandic Wisdom for Turbulent Times Related Podcast Episodes: How To Breathe: Breathwork, Intuition and Flow State with Francesca Sipma | 267 VI4P - Know Who You Are (Chapter 4) Gentleness: Cultivating Compassion for Yourself and Others with Courtney Carver | 282 Share the Love: If you found this episode insightful, please share it with a friend, tag us on social media, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform! 🔗 Subscribe & Review: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music…

about a year ago 56:24

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In this popular episode from last year, we explore the fascinating world of red team cyber security with Dwayne Laflotte, a seasoned expert in offensive cybersecurity. Dwayne shares his wealth of knowledge and experience, diving into the tactics and strategies employed by red teams to identify vulnerabilities and strengthen an organization's defenses. From exploiting backup systems to the importance of least privilege and strong passwords, this episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in bolstering their cybersecurity posture.

Dwayne provides captivating examples of how red team cyber security professionals think outside the box to breach networks, emphasizing the need for constant vigilance and adaptability in the face of evolving threats. He also highlights the critical role of collaboration between red and blue teams, stressing the importance of a multi-layered approach to cybersecurity. Packed with practical insights and actionable advice, this episode is an invaluable resource for IT professionals and business leaders alike.

301 episodes

The Backup Wrap-Up

Thinking Like a Hacker: Red Team Cyber Security Strategies

The Backup Wrap-Up

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published about a year ago

MP3•Episode home

301 episodes

#Tech #Backup Centrals Restore

All episodes

The Backup Wrap-Up

1
Ransomware Targets VMware ESXi: Melissa Palmer Explains the Threat 51:51

13 days ago51:51

51:51

You've found The Backup Wrap-up, your go-to podcast for all things backup, recovery, and cyber-recovery. In this episode, we tackle one of the scariest threats out there - ransomware targeting VMware ESXi environments. I'm joined by Prasanna Malaiyandi and our special guest Melissa Palmer, also known as @vmiss, who's an independent technology analyst and ransomware resiliency architect. We get into why virtualization environments are such juicy targets for attackers, how they're specifically going after vCenter and ESXi hosts, and why your backup strategy is probably missing some critical components. If you've got a virtualized environment, you need to listen to this. Melissa brings her unique perspective from both the virtualization and security worlds to help you protect your most critical infrastructure. So buckle up - this is an episode you can't afford to miss if you want to keep your VMware environment safe from ransomware attacks.…

The Backup Wrap-Up

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Breaking Down the VeeamOn Announcements for Backup Admins 45:24

20 days ago45:24

45:24

In this episode of The Backup Wrap-up, W. Curtis Preston breaks down the key VeeamON announcements from the VeeamON 2025 conference in San Diego. He highlights Veeam's focus on security and ransomware defense, including their new CrowdStrike integration and data resilience maturity model developed with McKinsey and MIT. Curtis shares his excitement about Veeam's long-awaited Linux-based software appliance, which addresses a critical security vulnerability in Windows-based backup systems. He also discusses other major VeeamON announcements like their Anthropic partnership for AI-powered backup content search, Microsoft Intra ID support, and the ability to recover backups to Azure in under five minutes. Whether you're a Veeam customer or just interested in backup technology trends, this episode provides valuable insights into these significant VeeamOn announcements.…

The Backup Wrap-Up

1
DOGE and GSA Claim $1M Savings by Ditching Old Tape Tech 46:17

27 days ago46:17

46:17

DOGE and GSA recently made headlines with a tweet claiming $1 million annual savings by converting 14,000 magnetic tapes to "permanent modern digital records." In this episode, W. Curtis Preston and Prasanna Malaiyandi analyze whether this claim is possible – although they cannot actually validate it due to lack of information. They discuss that DOGE and GSA's claim is possible given the significant costs of maintaining legacy systems, the migration process would also likely take months and involve substantial upfront expenses. Curtis also shares a humorous story about accidentally pressing an emergency power button during a critical mainframe recovery.…

The Backup Wrap-Up

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Why Tape Backup for Small Business Makes Sense Against Ransomware 38:03

5 weeks ago38:03

38:03

Tape backup for small business might sound like old tech, but Mag Store's new Thunderbolt-compatible tape drive could change that perception. In this episode, we discuss how this new offering potentially opens tape technology to a wider market of SMBs and content creators looking for ransomware protection and cost-effective long-term storage. Curtis and Prasanna dive into the specifics of when tape backup makes financial sense for small business data protection, particularly for companies generating large amounts of data or concerned about cloud security. They explore the $6,000 upfront investment against the long-term benefits of $90 tape cartridges that hold 45TB compressed. Perfect for SMBs with on-premises data or YouTube creators needing affordable archive solutions that are truly air-gapped from ransomware threats.…

The Backup Wrap-Up

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How Forever Incremental Backup Changed the World 43:46

6 weeks ago43:46

43:46

In this episode of The Backup Wrap-Up, Curtis and Prasanna explore how forever incremental backup technology revolutionized the data protection industry. They discuss the evolution from traditional backup methods to modern approaches that eliminate the need for regular full backups, dramatically reducing network traffic, storage requirements, and backup windows. The hosts examine the technical foundations of forever incremental backups, from block-level incremental tracking to backend storage innovations that make multiple recovery points possible without redundant data transfers. They compare older approaches like synthetic fulls with true forever incremental implementations, highlighting the critical differences and benefits. Whether you're still using legacy backup tools or evaluating modern solutions, this episode provides essential insights into why forever incremental has become the standard for efficient, reliable backup systems.…

The Backup Wrap-Up

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Cloud vs Tape Throwdown: Which is Better for Archiving? 36:14

7 weeks ago36:14

36:14

In this episode of The Backup Wrap-Up, we look at the cloud vs tape debate for active archives. The conversation was sparked by a LinkedIn post claiming tape libraries are the only robots not making things easier in 2025, suggesting cloud is superior to tape for active archives. We challenge this premise by pointing out that cloud vs tape is a false dichotomy since many cloud storage vendors use tape for their lowest-cost tiers. We examine key considerations including cost (where tape wins by orders of magnitude), data integrity (where tape actually outperforms disk), and access times (where expectations should align with use cases). For organizations running on-premises infrastructure, we also highlight the often-overlooked egress costs and transfer times associated with cloud storage. Whether you're managing secondary storage or planning an archive strategy, this candid discussion cuts through the marketing hype. Here's the LinkedIn post that sparked the discussion: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7300167312144322561/ Here's a recent episode about how tape is not dead: https://www.backupwrapup.com/is-tape-backup-dead-why-it-still-matters/…

The Backup Wrap-Up

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Disaster Recovery Lessons from 9/11 and Beyond 35:54

8 weeks ago35:54

35:54

In this eye-opening episode of The Backup Wrap-up, W. Curtis Preston and Prasanna Malaiyandi unpack crucial disaster recovery lessons from major events like 9/11. They discuss how companies lost both primary and backup data centers when both World Trade Center towers fell, highlighting why geographic separation is non-negotiable. The hosts break down the technical aspects of disaster recovery, comparing hot sites versus cold sites, and the realities of synchronous versus asynchronous replication across distances. Beyond the technical, Curtis and Prasanna share often-overlooked disaster recovery lessons about human factors—where recovery teams will sleep, eat, and work during extended outages when infrastructure is destroyed. They examine a real case from a hurricane-stricken island where teams converted conference rooms to sleeping quarters and relied on satellite communications. Whether you're planning for natural disasters, power outages, or ransomware attacks, these disaster recovery lessons will help ensure your organization can recover when—not if—disaster strikes.…

The Backup Wrap-Up

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How to Choose the Best Password Manager: Security Features That Matter 41:08

9 weeks ago41:08

41:08

In this episode of The Backup Wrap-up, Curtis and Prasanna discuss how to choose the best password manager in light of recent security breaches. They examine the LastPass hack that resulted in $150 million of stolen cryptocurrency and what that teaches us about password manager security. The hosts break down the critical security features to look for in the best password manager, including encryption strength, iteration counts, multi-factor authentication options, and passkey support. They emphasize that even with the LastPass breach, using a password manager is still far safer than not using one at all. This episode provides practical guidance on evaluating password manager security beyond the standard feature comparisons, with specific recommendations for cryptocurrency users and insights into the technical aspects of password vault protection. Here are some references for today's episode: https://www.rubrik.com/blog/company/25/rubrik-information-security-team-update https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/ransomware-gang-encrypted-network-from-a-webcam-to-bypass-edr/ https://krebsonsecurity.com/2023/09/experts-fear-crooks-are-cracking-keys-stolen-in-lastpass-breach/ https://krebsonsecurity.com/2025/03/feds-link-150m-cyberheist-to-2022-lastpass-hacks/…

The Backup Wrap-Up

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Is Tape Backup Dead? Why This Technology Still Matters 56:25

10 weeks ago56:25

56:25

Tape backup isn't dead – but it's glory days are gone. In this episode, W. Curtis Preston and Prasanna Malaiyandi discuss why tape backup remains relevant despite its diminished role in operational backups. They reveal how cloud giants have become the biggest consumers of tape technology while explaining common misconceptions about tape's performance. The hosts break down four core advantages tape backup still maintains: unbeatable cost (one to two orders of magnitude cheaper than alternatives), superior speed for bulk transfers, better data integrity with lower bit error rates, and built-in protection against ransomware through true immutability. Whether you're considering your disaster recovery strategy or looking for cost-effective long-term storage, this episode offers valuable insights into why tape backup continues to play a crucial role in modern data protection architectures. Here are some related episodes we talk about in the show: https://www.backupwrapup.com/ovhs-backup-service-didnt-work/ https://www.backupwrapup.com/back-in-my-day-backups-were-really-hard/ https://www.backupwrapup.com/tape-drive-designer-schools-mr-backup-on-tape/…

The Backup Wrap-Up

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Hide Your Backup Disk from Ransomware 33:26

11 weeks ago33:26

33:26

In this episode of The Backup Wrap-up, W. Curtis Preston and Prasanna Malaiyandi discuss critical strategies for securing your backup disk against cyber threats. They explain why the default configuration of storing backups in easily accessible directories makes your backup disk vulnerable to threat actors who specifically target backup systems before launching attacks. The conversation covers several effective methods to protect your backup disk, including using proprietary protocols like OST and Boost, implementing Virtual Tape Libraries (VTLs), leveraging dedicated backup appliances, and utilizing object storage both on-premises and in the cloud. Curtis emphasizes that keeping your backup disk out of user space is essential for maintaining security against increasingly sophisticated attackers. This episode provides practical advice for anyone using disk-based backup systems who wants to ensure their backup disk remains secure and recoverable when needed most.…

The Backup Wrap-Up

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Your 4-Hour Recovery Time Objective is Fantasy 38:40

12 weeks ago38:40

38:40

Ever wonder why your recovery time objective seems impossible to meet? In this episode, we challenge the common assumption that a four-hour RTO is achievable for most organizations. Host W. Curtis Preston and guest Prasanna Malaiyandi discuss why these aggressive recovery time objectives often exist only on paper. From ransomware attacks to natural disasters, we examine the real-world factors that make rapid recovery more complex than most realize. We break down the differences between recovery time objectives (RTOs) and actual recovery times (RTAs), exploring why organizations need to be more realistic about their recovery capabilities. Whether you're managing backups, planning disaster recovery, or responsible for business continuity, this episode will help you understand what's actually possible when disaster strikes. Check out these older episodes about how a real disaster unfolds: https://www.backupwrapup.com/real-life-hurricane-disaster-recover-story/ https://www.backupwrapup.com/disaster-recovery-after-a-hurricane-a-first-hand-account/…

The Backup Wrap-Up

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Passwords vs Passkeys: The Future of Backup Security 43:14

13 weeks ago43:14

43:14

In this eye-opening episode about passwords vs passkeys, W. Curtis Preston and Prasanna Malaiyandi expose why traditional password protection isn't enough for your backup systems anymore. They break down the evolution from basic passwords to MFA, and explain why passkeys and FIDO compliance represent the next level in security. Learn why hackers target backup systems first, how they exploit password vulnerabilities, and why even multi-factor authentication has its weak points. Discover why there hasn't been a single successful attack against FIDO-compliant systems, and why you should be pushing your backup vendors to support passkeys. Whether you're using a traditional backup system or a SaaS solution, this episode gives you the knowledge you need to better protect your last line of defense. We talked about this previous episode: https://www.backupwrapup.com/how-do-you-authenticate-with-all-new-hardware/…

The Backup Wrap-Up

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No one cares about your backup window! 42:12

14 weeks ago42:12

42:12

Understanding your backup window is crucial for effective data protection, but there's a twist - it's not just about backup speed. In this episode, we explore why focusing solely on backup speed misses the point entirely. The real measure of success? Your recovery capabilities. Join W. Curtis Preston and Prasanna Malaiyandi as they share war stories about backup windows gone wrong, including a memorable tale involving tape drives that could write but couldn't read. Learn why traditional backup windows have evolved, how modern technologies have changed the game, and most importantly, why your recovery testing matters more than your backup speed. We also dive into deduplication taxes, recovery groups, and why instant recovery capabilities might be your best friend in a crisis. This is the recovery failure we alluded to w/our friend Stuart Liddle: https://www.backupwrapup.com/laptop-restore-nightmare-900gb/…

The Backup Wrap-Up

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Artificial Intelligence: The Future of Backup? 43:06

15 weeks ago43:06

43:06

Artificial intelligence in backup isn't just marketing hype - it's changing how we protect our data. In this episode, W. Curtis Preston and Prasanna Malaiyandi break down the practical applications of AI in backup systems, from intelligent scheduling to ransomware detection. Learn how artificial intelligence helps with capacity planning, especially with deduplication systems where predicting storage needs gets tricky. We discuss AI's role in asset discovery, anomaly detection, and even creating better disaster recovery plans. Plus, find out why backing up AI models themselves might become your next big challenge. This no-nonsense look at AI in backup cuts through the confusion and focuses on what really matters - making your backups better.…

The Backup Wrap-Up

1
Disaster Recovery Testing: The Execution Phase 33:11

16 weeks ago33:11