3-2-1 Backup Rule – Efficient Data Protection Strategy
If you or your organization work with critically important digital data, you need an efficient data protection system in place and the 3-2-1 backup rule is a good start. This is a common issue for all users of digital devices. Be it an amateur photographer or a global business, compromised security is an inevitable byproduct of today’s technological advancements.
The backup system exists to ensure that your critical data will survive virtually anything because the vulnerabilities of even the most advanced hardware remain substantial even to this day. Too many individuals and companies have suffered irrecoverable loss or theft, damage caused by malicious software or hacks. It’s common sense that all hard drives will eventually fail; the question is whether or not you are prepared for the worst.
Data Protection Strategies
For a common user, copying all important files to another device and keeping the backups in a safe place might be sufficient. However, for enterprise-grade computer systems, things can be much more complicated, especially when it comes to virtual environments containing thousands of virtual machines. In these cases, a detailed data protection plan is a must.
The 3-2-1 Backup Rule
The 3-2-1 backup rule is easy to implement if you want to keep your data safe in almost any situation. The rule states: keep at least 3 copies of your data, store 2 backup copies on different media, and keep 1 of the backup devices offsite. Let’s take a closer look at all three aspects of the rule.
1. Keep at least Three copies of your data
By three copies we mean the primary data and at least two backups. Obviously, the more backup copies you keep, the lesser is the probability of a total loss. However, having only one backup isn’t enough, especially if it is stored on the same premises and on the same type of media where the primary data is stored. Something as trivial as the accidental triggering of a fire protection water system can “wash away” your data. Factor in the possibility of theft, fire, vandalism or actions of a disgruntled employee and you have a real problem on your hands.
2. Store at least Two backup copies on different types of devices
We must remember that any storage device fails sooner or later. Hard drives often fail due to wear and tear, fall victims of malware or simply get misplaced therefore diversification is key: keep primary data on an internal hard drive and store the backup copies on a different storage type – external hard drives, optical disks, digital tape, or simply upload it to the cloud.
3. Keep at least One backup copy offsite
Keep at least one copy in a safe space and away from the hub of your primary operations. It may literally be that – a safe at a well insured and physically protected location (a bank, p.o. box). The point is to strike a perfect balance between your data being fully accessible to you at any moment while keeping it away from everybody else. And if that means storing a backup in another city, state, country or even continent, do it.
Data Protection Options
Is the 3-2-1 rule perfect? Hardly, but the 3-2-1 approach is the best practice recommended by information security professionals as well as government authorities e.g. US-CERT (United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team) in its Data Backup Options document issued in 2012.
Multiple copies protect you from losing your primary data and multiple locations ensure that there is no single failure point and that your data is safe at another location.
It’s important to remember that while there are a lot of concepts of the backup design, there’s no all-around perfect solution. The challenge is to build a well-balanced data protection plan that best suits individual needs and covers many data security aspects such as critical data areas, backup types, storage media, scheduling, disaster recovery operations, automation, encryption, etc. Besides, a proper backup system needs to be live-tested regularly under different scenarios.
Conclusion
Overall, 3-2-1 is a good start when attempting to build a solid data protection system and control the risks of data getting corrupted or lost. Just remember that, although tornados and terrorist attacks are a real possibility (at least in some parts of the world), the real risks for your data are always closer than you think. Even if your storage facility is well protected against theft, voltage surge, water or fire damage, there are still hosts of other challenges beyond your control: device failures, viruses, malicious attacks, volume and directory glitches, transfer corruption or the always very real and omnipresent human error. And if your data is as valuable to you as it is to us, opt for the most advanced and sophisticated backup software – NAKIVO Backup & Replication. After all, being well-prepared in advance is the best data protection policy in any digital environment.
