A commonly used tactic is to have one backup stored on a network-attached device or a file server and another stored on removable media or another server.Īt least one copy of the two backups should be stored at a separate location from the production data and the other backup. The way it works is this:Īlways have at least three distinct copies of the data-one is the production set, and the other two are backups.Īt least two copies of the production data should be kept on secure storage devices that are physically independent of each other. The 3-2-1 data backup strategy is brilliant in its simplicity. Designed to take into account a number of worst-case scenarios, the data backup strategy ensures that at least one copy of data will be available to use for recovery and operations restoration. The list of information in a data backup varies, but a few common examples are:Ī 3-2-1 data backup strategy provides a structure and process for ensuring data resilience under almost any circumstance. What Data Should Be Included in a Backup?Īny data that cannot be easily recreated or replaced should be included in data backup as a rule of thumb.

Perform a checksum to verify that the original and backup files are identical.Ensure that the file dates and sizes are identical to the original copies.Confirm that there are no errors in opening files.Verify backups to ensure validity by performing spot checks to:.Locate the backup data in several locations, one of which is offsite (e.g., the 3-2-1 data backup strategy, which is explained in further detail below).How is data moved during a backup (e.g., encrypted)?.What are the data backup access policies?.Create a data backup policy, if one is not in place, that includes:.Commonly followed best practices include the following: Recovery Time Objective (RTO) and Recovery Point Objective (RPO) SLAs (service level agreements)ĭetermining best practices for data backup depends on the organization and its internal and external (e.g., SLAs, compliance) requirements.Requirements as specified by stakeholders and management.Resource availability to manage data backup functions.Other considerations for data backup frequency include: Scheduling should be based on the type of data and its importance to the organization. Best practices dictate that data backup storage includes an offsite component.ĭata backup frequency presents a challenge for most organizations.

Information is copied to another system, where it is stored.

Ensure Success with Data Backup Policiesĭata backup is a process of duplicating data to allow retrieval and restoration to systems if the original data is needed.

Data Backup and a Disaster Recovery Plan.

Data backup plan