NorthFirn field guide
What actually gets a small business back after ransomware
Ransomware recovery comes down to one question: do you have a backup the attacker could not reach, and have you restored from it before?
By NorthFirn · Published July 15, 2026
Why the backup decides the outcome
Attackers delete or encrypt reachable backups first, because a business that can restore has no reason to pay. CISA's guidance is to keep offline, encrypted backups and test them.
A copy that survives, and a restore you have run
Keep at least one offline or immutable copy with its own credentials and enough history, then restore your most important system to a safe location before an incident forces you to.