The 3-2-1 backup rule is a key component in your cybersecurity and disaster recovery planning. It’s been a practice that companies and IT professionals have implemented for decades. But what does this actually mean? Let’s break it down:
3 is the number of copies of your data you should have. This ensures that even if one copy becomes damaged or unusable, you have additional copies. It’s a standard rule of redundancy but it does come in handy if you experience downtime or a cyberattack because you can get your company back up and running in a much faster timeframe.
2 is the types of media your backups should be on. In the past, it was usually only physical backups, like tapes, disks, or servers. While those methods are still used today, the addition of the cloud has made it easier to store a copy digitally, which also means that you reduce the risk of losing the backups if any physical damage happens to the backup medium.
1 refers to having one copy of your backup in a separate location, whether it’s another office, your home, or even in the cloud. This is crucial in cybersecurity and disaster recovery for a number of reasons. First of all, it eliminates the chance that you will lose your backup if your network is hacked. Second, it also protects your backup from physical damage. Imagine if all of your backups were stored in the same physical location, and you experienced a severe weather event (such as a flood or hurricane) that damaged or destroyed your facility. Well, unless you have another copy of your backup stored in a different place, you’ve lost your backup completely. That’s not a risk any company should take.
Backup and disaster recovery are essential for every business and following the 3-2-1 Backup Rule will help to ensure that you can recover from any kind of event, whether it’s physical damage to your business, or a cyberattack on your network. If you need help developing your own backup and disaster recovery plan, contact the experts at TAG Solutions today. We’ll make sure your business is protected and ready for anything.