“We have backups” is one of the most dangerous sentences in trucking cybersecurity. The NMFTA framework and real ransomware data tell the same story: untested backups aren’t a safety net. They’re a false confidence trap.
I’ve heard it too many times.
“We have backups.”
Said with confidence… as a full answer… as if those three words close the conversation about ransomware preparedness.
They don’t.
Here is what “we have backups” actually tells me: You have files somewhere that are supposed to contain copies of your critical data. Whether those files are complete, uncorrupted, current, accessible under pressure, and restorable within a timeframe your business can survive… that you don’t know. Because you haven’t tested it.
Untested backups aren’t protection. They’re hope. And hope is not a strategy for a trucking company facing ransomware at 3 a.m. when dispatch is offline, drivers are calling, and customers are sending angry emails.
What the Data Actually Says
- 70% of ransomware claims in 2025 involved both encryption and data exfiltration (Coalition 2026 Cyber Claims Report)
- Average ransomware demands crossed $1 million for the first time — a 47% year-over-year increase
- 86% of victims refused to pay — because organizations with tested backups had options the others didn’t
The difference between those two groups isn’t budget. It’s proof.
The NMFTA Framework on Technology Resilience
The NMFTA Cargo Crime Framework calls out specific controls that determine whether you reach your backups at all:
- Proactive EOL Management — software exploits were the most common ransomware attack vector in 2025 (38% of confirmed incidents per Coalition)
- Device encryption — data at rest encrypted; data in transit using secure protocols
- Network segmentation — special-purpose devices isolated so ransomware entering one doesn’t reach everything
Three Questions That Reveal Your Real Backup Posture
1. When did we last restore from backup — the full environment, under realistic conditions?
If the answer is “when we set it up,” you have not tested your backups. You have assumed they work.
2. Are our backups stored where ransomware cannot reach them?
Backups connected to the same network as your primary systems can be encrypted alongside everything else. Immutable, offsite, or air-gapped backups are different. Do you know which you have?
3. How long does a full restoration actually take — and can your business survive that long?
A backup that takes three weeks to restore is not a ransomware recovery tool. It’s a disaster.
The Proof to Profit Moment
One of the five gaps I consistently see inside trucking companies is backup confidence: the belief that having backups is the same as being able to use them under pressure.
If you haven’t tested your backups, you don’t have a recovery plan. You have a theory.
It’s time to test the theory before someone tests it for you.
Schedule a Backup Validation Assessment with IT ArchiTeks | Learn More About Proof to Profit at NMFTA Convention
Written by Melanie Padron
Vice President of Strategic Growth · IT ArchiTeks
Risk Strategist · National Cybersecurity Speaker
Melanie Padron brings nearly three decades of risk management experience, spanning insurance and cybersecurity, to help trucking and logistics leaders validate security posture, strengthen resilience, and protect revenue before pressure reveals what preparation concealed.
She’s a nationally recognized cybersecurity keynote speaker and the creator of two acclaimed talks:
- Surviving a Cyber Crisis: Real Stories. Real Lessons. Real Money.
- Proof to Profit: How Leaders Protect Revenue in the Age of Ransomware and AI
To bring either conversation to your conference, association, or leadership team — visit ITArchiTeks.com or connect with Melanie directly on LinkedIn.