Why the 3-2-1 principle of data backup matters

Why the 3-2-1 principle of data backup matters

There’s no denying that digital assets are among the most valuable in any modern organization. By now, almost everyone in the business world is aware of just how important it is to keep everything safely backed up, but that doesn’t mean they’re adequately prepared for disaster. For instance, many companies only think about the actual backup process, rather than how much time and effort it would take to restore data following an incident. Some backups are less resilient than others too, which is why you also need to incorporate remote backup resources.

What is the 3-2-1 rule of data backup?

The 3-2-1 principle relies on having at least three copies of your data, two of which are kept on-site and one kept remotely. It’s one of the oldest and most recognized backup methodologies, dating from the era when companies would archive all their data to tape drives and have them stored in an off-site location.

While the “3” refers to the total number of copies, the “2” refers to the number of copies you keep on-site. Although this isn’t as relevant in the age of cloud computing, it’s still important to keep readily accessible archives of your data just in case the remote copy goes astray.

The “2” refers to the fact you should have two different mediums for storing your on-site backups. After all, storing both local backup copies on the same system or even on the same network hardly does anything to increase resilience. Ideally, you should have a backup stored on a local storage area network or other dedicated system and another on external media like optical drives or portable hard drives.

Finally, the “1” refers to the off-site backup which is typically stored in the cloud. Most online backup services store your data in more than one physical location as well.

Why you need an off-site backup

Having an on-site backup is a must since it gives you a readily accessible archive of your important data, which you can also keep current without having to consume large amounts of internet bandwidth.

But if your business premises succumbs to a disaster such as a flood or fire, then chances are any on-site backups are going to disappear as well. There’s also a high risk of a malware attack, which may infect entire networks and every system connected to them. That’s why having a continuously updated archive of your data off-site is critical to having a complete strategy.

There’s more to having a secure off-site backup than simply copying everything over to your OneDrive or Google Drive account. Online storage and online backup aren’t interchangeable terms. After all, human error or even a breach or hardware failure in your service provider can still result in the loss of remotely stored data. Opting instead for a cloud-enabled backup and archiving service helps distribute the responsibility while also giving you a clearly documented process for recovering data in the event of a disaster.

What are the limitations?

The 3-2-1 principle isn’t foolproof. Nothing is. There’s no such thing as a perfect backup and disaster recovery strategy, but there are ways to increase resilience so that severe data loss is extremely unlikely.

Many companies are now migratin

g to a 3-2-2 or even a 3-2-3 strategy. In these cases, you have two or three off-site copies, respectively. For example, if you have three off-site copies, you might have one on physical media stored in a secure off-site facility and two geographically segmented copies stored in the cloud.

When choosing a backup and disaster recovery service provider, it’s important to make sure that they can offer the flexibility you need not just now, but also in the foreseeable future.

Solution Partner provides comprehensive data backup solutions and round-the-clock managed IT services to businesses in Phoenix. If you want to be fully prepared for any catastrophe, call us today to schedule your free consultation.


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