# Evaluation of a New-Concept Secure File Server Solution
## 1 Introduction  
Due to the rapid advances in technology, not only smart devices, computers, and software have evolved at an enormous speed, but also malware (computer viruses, key-loggers, data manipulators, etc.) [1]. It is well-known that anti-malware applications have always been one step behind malicious software since the former was developed based on the mass data produced by computer viruses [2]. If a computer falls victim to a new(er) kind of malicious software, the anti-malware protection applications can detect the incident and take the necessary steps only with some delay. Obviously, the elapsed time interval of some days between detection and response can be critical in any system. The question is whether the malicious software was able to cause any damage to the system during this period. Malicious software can have many purposes, such as crippling a system, stealing and manipulating data, or simply causing damage [3]. In order to reduce the damage caused by data loss, most of today's non-user systems back themselves up every hour, day, or week, or in any other specified time interval. That way, if malicious software gets into the system and goes live, the compromised system can be restored to the previous backup point. As described earlier, the time factor is crucial here, i.e., how quickly the antivirus software or other data protection application detects the problem within its system. Among the variousviruses, there is a growing number of data-stealing or data-access-blocking viruses that not only cripple the users' systems but can also cause serious damage [3]. A ransomware virus works by (1) gaining access to the target system, (2) optionally stealing data and encrypting the files, and (3) finally demanding a ransom from the victim. Although the details of the execution may vary from one ransomware variant to another, these three basic steps are the same for all of them. In relation to ransomware intrusions, [PERSON], Marketing Communications Manager at RH-ISAC [4], has also described that Unit42 incident response and data breach reports show that insecure Microsoft Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) connections account for more than half of all ransomware attacks [4], followed by email phishing, which accounts for about a quarter of all ransomware infections, followed by software vulnerability exploits, which account for 12% [4]. Ransomware is still a real threat today, and according to the FBI's Cybercrime Report 2021, it caused more than $42.9 million in losses in 2021 [5]. Beyond the headlines, this also means that in the event of an attack, a dedicated and well-established response protocol should be ready in every organization's security and defense toolkit. While a ransomware attack required years of development, cryptography, and penetration testing expertise and yielded only modest financial gains in the past, Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) platforms are now becoming more common and widely available. Various illegal Internet forums allow would-be attackers to easily and cheaply associate with the authors of ransomware. Moreover, these RaaS programs are already well-developed and often come with user manuals and technical support. However, despite rapidly evolving technology and high levels of digitization, many IT systems are outdated, which poses a high risk. For example, healthcare systems are a vulnerable area [6], for if a healthcare provider loses access to their data because of a successful ransomware attack, they have no other choice but to pay the ransom. With ransomware spreading at an alarming rate and infrastructure being at risk all the time, it is essential to realize that while complex, resource-intensive hardware and software components are already available to provide the specified parts of protection, and however good the protection, prevention solutions and a rapid recovery from malicious events are goals that can really ensure business continuity in affected systems even in the event of a successful attack.