Assured launches CleanRoom SCAN for clean cyber recovery

Assured Data Protection has launched CleanRoom SCAN, a managed cyber recovery service that scans backup data before restoration. The service is initially available for Rubrik-protected VMware environments.

The offering addresses a common problem after a cyberattack: a backup may exist, but it may be unclear whether it is free from malware or other signs of compromise. CleanRoom SCAN scans isolated backup copies using multiple security engines to identify hidden threats before data is restored.

It is designed to help customers find the most recent clean recovery point without placing extra load on live production systems. During ransomware incidents, that process often takes days or weeks as organisations test multiple restore points before finding one that is safe to use.

Recovery check

The service works on backup data separated from the production environment, allowing organisations to inspect replicated backup data for malware and indicators of compromise in an isolated setting. This reduces the risk of reinfecting systems during recovery.

Rather than relying on a single endpoint or security platform, CleanRoom SCAN applies multiple independent security engines to the same backup data. This is intended to improve the chances of detecting threats that one product alone might miss because of differences in threat intelligence, detection methods and update cycles.

If malware or other signs of compromise are found in a customer's backup data, Assured alerts the customer so investigation and remediation can begin before any restoration takes place. Customers also receive regular verification of clean recovery points held within its infrastructure.

The launch adds to Assured's managed services portfolio in data protection, disaster recovery and cyber recovery. CleanRoom SCAN builds on its existing cyber resilience services and sits alongside support for technologies including Rubrik, Nutanix and Zerto.

Market demand

The service is aimed at mid-market and enterprise organisations where downtime can have major operational and financial effects. Assured pointed to sectors including financial services, insurance, public sector, gaming, transport and healthcare, where clean recovery has particular importance.

For managed service providers and channel partners, the launch also reflects a broader shift in customer requirements. Buyers are increasingly looking not only for backup and disaster recovery, but also for evidence that recovery can be carried out from a known clean point after a cyber incident.

Nik Grove, Field CTO at Assured Data Protection, outlined the company's view of that challenge. "Effective cyber resilience and recovery isn't just about having backups. It's about knowing which backups are safe to use," he said.

"No single security tool catches every threat. CleanRoom SCAN complements existing security investments by verifying isolated backup data with multiple leading security engines, giving customers far greater confidence that they're recovering from a genuinely clean recovery point."

The issue has become more pressing as ransomware attacks have made recovery operations more complex for IT teams. Even where backups are available, organisations can still lose time working backwards through restore points if malicious files have already been replicated into backup sets.

That can create significant costs for businesses whose systems are central to daily operations. It also raises the risk of restoring data only to discover that the environment remains compromised, leading to further disruption.

CleanRoom SCAN is intended to shorten this stage of incident response by giving customers an independent check of backup integrity before restoration begins. Assured said this helps security and IT teams establish a more defensible recovery position.

Alvaro Gonzalez, Senior Vice President of Product and Go-to-Market at Assured Data Protection, said the time taken to identify a safe restore point is often the biggest obstacle during a ransomware event. "During a ransomware event, the longest and most expensive part of recovery is often finding the point at which the environment was last clean.

"CleanRoom SCAN is designed to shorten that process. It gives organizations a more defensible recovery position and helps security and IT leaders demonstrate that they have taken additional steps to protect the business."