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PODCAST

The Backup Wrap-Up

W. Curtis Preston (Mr. Backup)

Formerly known as "Restore it All," The Backup Wrap-up podcast turns unappreciated backup admins into cyber recovery heroes. After a brief analysis of backup-related news, each episode dives deep into one topic that you can use to better protect your organization from data loss, be it from accidents, disasters, or ransomware. The Backup Wrap-up is hosted by W. Curtis Preston (Mr. Backup) and his co-host Prasanna Malaiyandi. Curtis" passion for backups began over 30 years ago when his employer, a

technology

All Episodes

31:09

Building Your Cyber Security Team: Blue Teams, Red...

The Backup Wrap-Up ·

2025/12/22

Building a cyber security team isn't optional anymore; it's the difference between recovering from ransomware and going out of business. In this episode, Curtis and Prasanna explain why hardening your backup infrastructure is only half the battle. You need professionals who know how to configure XDR systems without drowning you in false positives, blue teams to defend your environment, and red teams to test whether your defenses actually work. They cover the role of MSSPs, incident response

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34:47

Building a resilient backup system

The Backup Wrap-Up ·

2025/12/15

Want to know how to build an resilient backup system that protects from ransomware attacks? In this episode, Curtis and Prasanna go beyond the basics to discuss four critical security features every modern backup system needs. Building on feedback from their previous episode about backup fundamentals, they cover multi-factor authentication (and why SMS doesn't cut it anymore), secure remote access methods, role-based access control, and when to bring in managed security service providers. The hosts

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34:38

10 Must-Have Features of Any Backup System

The Backup Wrap-Up ·

2025/12/08

Every backup system needs certain design elements to actually work when disaster strikes. In this episode of The Backup Wrap-up, W. Curtis Preston (Mr. Backup) and Prasanna Malaiyandi break down the 10 non-negotiable components your backup system must have. They cover the 3-2-1 rule, automated scheduling, recovery testing, defined RTOs and RPOs, backup security, SaaS protection, documentation, retention policies, monitoring, and endpoint backup. If your backup system is missing any of these

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31:30

The Death of the 3-2-1 Rule: Enter 3-2-1-1-0

The Backup Wrap-Up ·

2025/12/01

The 3-2-1 rule is dead. Long live 3-2-1-1-0. For decades, the 3-2-1 rule has been the gold standard for backup strategies - three copies of your data, on two different media, with one copy somewhere else. But ransomware killed it. Not because the fundamentals were wrong, but because threat actors learned to target backups specifically. In this episode, Curtis and Prasanna explain why the traditional 3-2-1 rule isn't enough anymore and what the evolution to 3-2-1-1-0 means for your backup strategy

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35:08

How to Set Realistic Recovery Point Objective (RPO)...

The Backup Wrap-Up ·

2025/11/24

Want to know how much data you're really willing to lose? We're breaking down recovery point objective RPO - the agreement about how much data loss you can accept, measured in time. Most organizations have RPOs that are pure fantasy, claiming they can only lose an hour of data when they're backing up once a day. Curtis and Prasanna discuss why RPO matters, how ransomware scenarios can force you to accept more data loss than planned, and the difference between your stated RPO and your actual backup

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32:58

Recovery Time Objective vs Reality: Closing the Gap

The Backup Wrap-Up ·

2025/11/17

Most IT teams can't meet their recovery time objective—and they don't even know it. In this episode of The Backup Wrap-up, Curtis and Prasanna explain why your RTO is probably fantasy, who should actually be setting it (hint: not you), and what recovery time actual really means. We cover the critical difference between objectives and reality, why testing is non-negotiable, and how to have honest conversations with business leadership about what's achievable. Learn about DR drills, chaos engineering,

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59:38

Microsoft 365 backup is NOT an option - It's mandatory

The Backup Wrap-Up ·

2025/11/10

Many organizations believe that Microsoft 365 backup is handled by Microsoft. That's a dangerous misconception. In this episode, W. Curtis Preston (Mr. Backup) and Microsoft 365 expert Vanessa Toves explain why you own your data and are responsible for protecting it—not Microsoft. They discuss the limitations of the recycle bin, why retention policies aren't backups, and what can go wrong when organizations assume SaaS means hands-off data protection. Whether you're running a Fortune 500 company or

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33:56

Detect Ransomware Before It Destroys Your Business

The Backup Wrap-Up ·

2025/10/27

Ransomware detection is more complex than most organizations realize. In this episode, cybersecurity expert Mike Saylor breaks down the real-world signs of ransomware attacks—from users complaining about slow computers to smart devices acting strangely. We explore polymorphic malware that changes based on its target, the risks posed by managed service providers using shared credentials, and why milliseconds matter in ransomware detection and response. Mike explains the difference between EDR, XDR,

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25:18

The ArcGIS Hack That Turned Backups Into a Malware...

The Backup Wrap-Up ·

2025/10/20

This episode examines a sophisticated ArcGIS hack that remained undetected for 12 months. The threat group Flax Typhoon compromised an ArcGIS server by exploiting weak credentials and deploying a malicious Java extension that functioned as a web shell. The attack highlights critical failures in traditional security approaches: the malware was backed up along with legitimate data, signature-based detection tools completely missed the custom code, and the lack of multi-factor authentication made the

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38:24

Deepfake Attacks: The Growing Threat to Enterprise...

The Backup Wrap-Up ·

2025/10/06

Deepfake attacks are exploding, and your company is probably not ready. In this episode of The Backup Wrap-up, we dive into how cybercriminals are using AI to clone voices and create fake videos to authorize fraudulent wire transfers and reset credentials. With nearly 50% of businesses already experiencing deepfake attacks, this isn't a future problem – it's happening right now. We break down the two main attack vectors: authorization fraud (where fake CEOs trick employees into wiring money) and

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48:04

Cyber Attack Notification - Final Lessons from Mr....

The Backup Wrap-Up ·

2025/09/29

When cyber attack notification goes wrong, companies face a disaster worse than the original breach. This episode dives deep into the critical mistakes organizations make when communicating about security incidents - and why transparency beats secrecy every time.We examine real-world failures like LastPass and Rackspace, where poor communication strategies amplified the damage from their cyber attacks. From legal requirements in California and GDPR to the new one-hour notification rules in China, we

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43:41

Insider Threats and the Power of Least Privilege Access

The Backup Wrap-Up ·

2025/09/22

Insider threats represent one of the most dangerous cybersecurity risks facing organizations today - and they're way more common than you think. In this episode of The Backup Wrap-up, we explore the three main types of insider threats: compromised employees who get extorted or have their credentials stolen, disgruntled workers who want revenge after getting fired, and outside attackers who infiltrate your company to become malicious insiders. We break down real-world scenarios and discuss how to

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32:33

Advanced Persistent Threats Explained Through Mr. Robot

The Backup Wrap-Up ·

2025/09/15

Advanced persistent threats represent one of the most dangerous cyber security challenges facing organizations today. These long-term, stealthy attacks allow hackers to maintain undetected access to networks for extended periods. In this episode, we analyze multiple APT scenarios from Mr. Robot, including the Evil Corp hack, Ollie's compromised laptop, and the Dark Army's infiltration of Allsafe. We explore how threat actors establish footholds, maintain persistence, and operate across different

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41:48

Cybersecurity Situational Awareness Lessons from Mr....

The Backup Wrap-Up ·

2025/09/08

This episode of The Backup Wrap-up examines cybersecurity situational awareness through the lens of Mr. Robot's prison break episode. Curtis and Prasanna analyze the technical accuracy of USB stick attacks, Bluetooth car hacking, and social engineering tactics. The hosts discuss real-world defenses including USB port management, network segmentation, and employee training. They explore WPA2 encryption vulnerabilities and why upgrading to WPA3 matters for wireless security. The conversation covers

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40:34

Honeypot Server Best Practices - From Mr. Robot to...

The Backup Wrap-Up ·

2025/09/01

Learn the ins and outs of honeypot server deployment and management in this episode of The Backup Wrap-up. We break down the cybersecurity concept using examples from Mr. Robot episodes 1.6 and 1.7, showing how these deceptive systems can catch both external attackers and insider threats.A honeypot server works by creating an enticing target that looks valuable but contains no real business data. The key is making it accessible through common exploits and monitoring every access attempt. Curtis and

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46:37

Privilege Escalation Explained: Mr. Robot...

The Backup Wrap-Up ·

2025/08/25

Privilege escalation attacks represent one of the most dangerous cybersecurity threats facing organizations today. In this episode of The Backup Wrap-Up, we analyze how threat actors use initial access to gain higher privileges and compromise entire networks. Through examples from Mr. Robot, we explore both vertical privilege escalation (exploiting vulnerabilities for admin access) and horizontal attacks (spreading through shared systems). Learn why backup administrators often become prime targets

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43:32

Mr Robot Lessons: Cybersecurity in the Workplace

The Backup Wrap-Up ·

2025/08/18

This episode examines cybersecurity in the workplace through the lens of Mr. Robot's "Exploits" episode, where social engineering takes center stage. Curtis Preston and Prasanna break down how Elliot infiltrates Steel Mountain data center using badge cloning, psychological manipulation, and fake identities.The hosts analyze real-world implications of these attacks, from coffee shop badge theft to exploiting lonely employees. They discuss critical gaps in physical security protocols and explain why

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25:39

Social Engineering Attacks: Lessons from Mr. Robot...

The Backup Wrap-Up ·

2025/08/11

Social engineering attacks are becoming more sophisticated, and this episode of The Backup Wrap-up explores real-world tactics through our Mr. Robot series analysis. Curtis and Prasanna examine how social engineering works, from Instagram stalking to phone compromise, and discuss actual ransomware groups like Scattered Spider who use social engineering to impersonate employees and reset passwords. We break down the hospital hacking scene, revealing how underfunded IT departments create

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34:23

Reconnaissance in Cyber Security: Lessons from Mr....

The Backup Wrap-Up ·

2025/08/04

Reconnaissance in cyber security isn't just about scanning networks; it's about understanding your entire attack surface, including the human element. In this episode, Curtis and Prasanna analyze Mr. Robot season one, episode two, (AKA ep 1.1) to explore how sophisticated threat actors conduct reconnaissance before major attacks.Learn how F Society mapped Evil Corp's infrastructure, identified backup locations like Steel Mountain, and used human intelligence to target vulnerable employees. We

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44:15

Social Engineering Lessons from Mr. Robot Episode 1

The Backup Wrap-Up ·

2025/07/28

Learn how social engineering attacks really work by analyzing the cybersecurity lessons from Mr. Robot's pilot episode. Curtis Preston and Prasanna Malaiyandi break down real-world social engineering tactics used by cybercriminals to manipulate victims into revealing sensitive information.This episode covers social engineering phone scams targeting even cybersecurity professionals, the dangers of AI-powered voice cloning in modern attacks, and practical defense strategies. Discover why security

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332 results

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