Backup Solutions

3-2-1 RULE FOR BACKUP SOLUTIONS

The 3-2-1 backup rule is a widely recognized best practice for data backup and disaster recovery. It provides a simple and effective strategy to ensure that your data is protected against various threats, including hardware failure, data corruption, malware attacks, and natural disasters. Here’s how it works:

Three Copies of Your Data: Maintain at least three copies of your data. This includes the original data and two additional backup copies. Having multiple copies ensures redundancy and minimizes the risk of data loss if one copy becomes inaccessible or corrupted.

Two Different Storage Media: Store your backup copies on at least two different types of storage media. For example, you might use a combination of external hard drives, network-attached storage (NAS), tape drives, cloud storage, or optical discs. Using different storage media reduces the likelihood of all backups being affected by the same failure or disaster.

One Offsite Backup: Keep at least one backup copy offsite, ideally in a geographically distant location from your primary data centre or office. Offsite backups protect your data in the event of a localized disaster, such as a fire, flood, or theft, that could potentially affect both your primary data and local backup copies.

Following the 3-2-1 backup rule helps ensure that your data is protected against a wide range of threats and provides a robust foundation for disaster recovery and business continuity. By implementing this rule, you can mitigate the risk of data loss and minimize downtime in the event of an unexpected incident.