Customer: AI Engineers
Industry: Civil Engineering and Construction
Elastio Solution: VMware environment, Veeam Backup, Data Security
Challenges:
Unpredictable and Lengthy Recovery from Ransomware Attacks
Traditional backup solutions made ransomware recovery a slow, trial-and-error process. Identifying clean recovery points was time-consuming, leading to prolonged downtime and data loss.
Inability to Detect Hidden Malware in Backup Snapshots
Existing antivirus tools failed to detect deeply hidden ransomware threats, leaving backups vulnerable and recovery attempts compromised.
Lack of Seamless Integration with Existing Backup Infrastructure
Woolford’s team required a solution to complement their Veeam backup and VMware infrastructure without added complexity.
Results:
Elastio Ransomware Recovery Assurance Platform provided instant visibility into compromised backups, enabling precise identification of clean recovery points. Recovery times shrank from days or weeks to minutes, restoring operations faster and more reliably.
Elastio Platform’s proactive backup integrity validation uncovered malware missed by four major antivirus solutions, ensuring only safe data was restored and strengthening overall resilience.
Elastio Platform integrated seamlessly with Veeam, providing advanced ransomware detection alongside reliable backup performance, filling a critical security gap while maintaining operational efficiency.
Company Overview
AI Engineers is a multi-disciplined engineering firm specializing in bridge design, load rating, and commercial construction projects. As Director of Information Technology, Derrick Woolford oversees all aspects of IT, including cybersecurity, disaster recovery, and compliance.
The Challenge: Uncertainty in Ransomware Recovery
Woolford experienced a common and critical challenge during his previous IT roles, supporting clients as an MSP for years before joining AI Engineers: ransomware recovery was time-consuming and unpredictable. He recalls one incident where it took an entire week to locate a clean backup, only to find it was a month old—resulting in significant downtime and data loss. Traditional backup solutions could not pinpoint safe recovery points, leaving teams stuck in a costly cycle of trial and error. This exposure highlighted the urgent need for a proactive solution like Elastio Platform.
"We once spent a week trying to restore backups after a ransomware attack. Each backup was infected, leading to further downtime and lost data. We didn’t know which backups were safe—it was pure guesswork."
The Solution: Elastio Platform’s Unique Backup Integrity and Threat Detection
Woolford discovered Elastio at a security conference and was captivated by its innovative approach. Unlike traditional backup solutions that claim to offer data integrity and ransomware detection but often fall short, Elastio’s Ransomware Recovery Assurance Platform proactively scans backup snapshots, detects hidden threats, and verifies data integrity. It provides precise insights when infections start—something conventional systems simply cannot deliver.
"With the Elastio Platform, I can see when backups became infected. I know which backup to restore, saving days of trial and error. It’s a huge time saver."
Key Benefits
- Ransomware Detection and Backup Data Integrity Validation
Elastio’s Platform continuously monitors Veeam backups, providing advanced ransomware detection and data integrity validation. During the POV, Elastio identified malware that had remained hidden for over a decade—missed by four leading antivirus solutions. This proactive approach ensures threats are caught early, safeguarding data before ransomware spreads.
"The ability to see compromised snapshots immediately gives us a massive edge in preventing downtime."
- Clean, Confident Recovery
Knowing which backup is safe eliminates guesswork and reduces recovery times from weeks to minutes.
"I no longer have to cycle through multiple infected backups. I can confidently restore from the right snapshot the first time."
- Seamless Veeam Integration
Elastio Platform’s integration with Veeam fits smoothly into Woolford’s VMware infrastructure.
"Veeam is excellent for backups, but with Elastio, I get the best of both worlds—reliable backup performance paired with advanced ransomware detection. Elastio Platform seamlessly fills that critical gap, giving me the confidence to recover quickly and safely."
- Responsive, Expert Support
Elastio Platform’s Premium Support Service delivers prompt responses and clear guidance, making incident management faster and more efficient.
"Elastio Platform support experience mirrors the best of industry, like CrowdStrike’s. We receive alerts, expert guidance, and resolutions in record time."
The Impact: Efficiency and Peace of Mind
Since deploying the Elastio Ransomware Recovery Assurance Platform, AI Engineers has not experienced a ransomware event—but the proactive threat detection and clean restore assurance have transformed their disaster recovery strategy.
"It’s all about peace of mind. Elastio gives us confidence that we’re protected and can recover quickly. In IT, that confidence is invaluable."
Ready to see more?
About Elastio
Elastio is a pioneer in Ransomware Recovery Assurance, offering advanced solutions to protect critical business data from sophisticated cyber threats. Powered by its AI-driven RansomwareIQ engine, Elastio validates data integrity by detecting hidden ransomware across cloud and on-premises environments with 99.99% accuracy. Elastio integrates effortlessly into existing workflows, providing multi-cloud and multi-backup protection, while its compliance-ready reporting supports adherence to regulations like NYDFS and DORA. Elastio empowers organizations to minimize downtime, recover swiftly, and confidently combat modern ransomware threats by prioritizing data integrity and operational resilience.
