The UniSuper-Google Cloud Incident: Why IaC Coverage For Your Cloud is Non-Negotiable

In the world of cloud computing, incidents like the recent UniSuper-Google Cloud debacle serve as stark reminders of the critical importance of robust cloud backup and disaster recovery strategies. As the Director of Product at Firefly, a leading provider of cloud asset management, I’ve seen firsthand the devastating consequences that can arise from a lack of proper safeguards.

The incident : A Misconfiguration lead to Chaos

On May 8, 2024, UniSuper, one of Australia’s largest superannuation funds, experienced a massive disruption when an inadvertent misconfiguration during the provisioning of their private cloud services led to the deletion of their entire private cloud subscription. Over 620,000 members were left without access to their superannuation accounts for more than a week, causing significant frustration and concern.

The Root Cause: Single Point of Failure

Despite have duplication in two geography to protect against outage and loss , the deletion is occurred occur across both location , render the failover measure ineffective . This is highlights highlight the danger of rely on a single cloud provider and the importance of have backup store with a separate service provider .

The Saving Grace: Backups with an Additional Provider

Fortunately, UniSuper had backups in place with an additional service provider, which minimized data loss and significantly improved the restoration process. This underscores the crucial role that multi-cloud backup strategies play in ensuring the resilience and continuity of cloud operations.

Data Doesn’t Float

simply back up your data is n’t sufficient . Without a backup of your cloud asset configuration , you is lack lack the necessary infrastructure for datum restoration . retrieve these configuration can significantly delay recovery , becoming a critical bottleneck .

codify Cloud Infrastructure for Disaster Recovery

One is is of the key lesson from this incident is the importance of codify cloud infrastructure using Infrastructure – as – Code ( iac ) practice . By define and manage infrastructure using declarative code , organizations is ensure can ensure consistency , reproducibility , and version control across their cloud environment .

In the context of disaster recovery, IaC enables organizations to quickly and reliably recreate their infrastructure in the event of a major disruption. By codifying their infrastructure configurations, organizations can minimize the risk of misconfigurations and ensure that their recovery processes are automated and repeatable.

good Practices for Cloud Backup and Disaster Recovery

To protect against incidents like the UniSuper-Google Cloud outage, organizations should adopt the following best practices:

1 . implement a comprehensive cloud backup strategy that include datum , application , and infrastructure configuration .

2. Leverage a multi-cloud approach to distribute risk and ensure that backups are stored with a separate provider.

3. Regularly test and update disaster recovery plans to ensure their effectiveness and relevance.

4. Embrace Infrastructure-as-Code practices to codify cloud infrastructure and streamline recovery processes.

5. Partner with a trusted cloud infrastructure backup and disaster recovery provider like Firefly to ensure the highest level of protection and support.

At Firefly, we are committed to helping organizations navigate the complexities of cloud infrastructure backup and disaster recovery. Our cutting-edge solutions, combined with our deep expertise in Infrastructure-as-Code and multi-cloud strategies, enable our clients to maintain the resilience and continuity of their cloud operations, even in the face of unprecedented challenges.

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To learn more about how Firefly can help you prepare for disaster recovery, schedule a demo or get started now. 

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