Does Your Data Backup Comply with the 3-2-1 Rule

We often discuss data backup and disaster recovery on our blog, and you may even be familiar with some of the terms and practices we throw around. Today, we want to take a closer look at the 3-2-1 rule and how it impacts your business’ ability to recover in the face of a disaster. Let’s dive in and see how the 3-2-1 rule can make or break your company’s data infrastructure.

What is the 3-2-1 Rule?

When we discuss the 3-2-1 rule, this is what we mean:

• Three copies of your data: You should have three updated copies of your data, including the original.
• Two types of media: You’ll want to use two different storage mediums, at the very minimum. For example, you could keep one in the cloud in addition to the original stored on your network.
• One copy off-site: Whether it’s in an off-site data center or stored in the cloud, you should keep one copy isolated from potential attacks against your network.

Of course, this isn’t an end-all-be-all for data backup and disaster recovery; it’s merely a baseline that you can augment in whatever way you need. For example, you might choose different storage sites for various parts of your data infrastructure, or other unique requirements in addition to the baseline established above.

Why Does the 3-2-1 Rule Work?

The 3-2-1 rule is important for businesses no matter the size or industry, and it’s an important part of ensuring redundancy for your organization. For example, if something happens to your on-premise hardware, you will rely on your cloud-based data backups to recover. This is particularly important in today’s ransomware-filled business environment. And don’t forget to test your data backups periodically, too; the last thing you want is to find out your backups are corrupted when you need them most.

Washington Works can help your business with our comprehensive backup and disaster recovery solution. Our BDR tools can help you ensure that your company follows the 3-2-1 rule while ensuring redundancy. To learn more, reach out to us at 301-571-5040.