Using backup meta-data and analytics for detecting cyber-attacks

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention relate to generating backups of assets. More specifically, in one or more embodiments of the invention, the meta-data generated during the backups is leveraged for detecting cyber-attacks by leveraging backup meta-data, to reduce the amount of data that needs to be scanned by a cyber-security module to detect a cyber-attack, such as a ransomware attack. This allows any attacks to be detected earlier and reduce processing by leveraging the periodic backups that are performed as part of data protection, to detect when an attack has or is occurring. By making these determinations, a quick identification of possible ransomware attacks may be made and other methods of mitigating the attack may be deployed when the method of mitigating the attack might still be useful to mitigate potential damage to a user's data.