TABLE OF CONTENTS
3-2-1 Backup Strategy
The 3-2-1 backup strategy is a data protection and disaster recovery methodology allowing you to securely store your up-to-date data. According to the 3-2-1 rule, three copies of data are created—one original and two copies (on two different media types).
Although the 3-2-1 back upstrategy is decades old, it’s still relevant. Thanks to its resilient nature, this strategy protects data against multiple risks. Be it a software issue or a physical disaster, the chances of losing all copies of your data are pretty slim.
Breaking Down the 3-2-1 Rule
The 3-2-1 rule is a universal approach popular among both businesses and individuals that requires you to keep:
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3 copies of your Data: Out of the three copies, 2 are backup copies of your original data. So, there are two copies.
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2 Different Storage Media: Ideally, the data needs to be stored on different media types.
For instance, the first copy can be stored on a hard drive, and the second on a cloud storage platform. You can choose any media type as long as they’re different, reducing the chances of both copies getting impacted by the same issue.
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1 Offsite Copy: One physical copy (stored on the hard drive) is sent off-site, i.e., to a different geographical location. This helps add another layer of protection and facilitates effective disaster recovery.
Note. The goal is to store one copy at a different geographical location. It doesn’t matter whether the data is stored on a hard drive or on a cloud platform.
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Why is the 3-2-1 Backup Strategy Important?
Here are the primary benefits that make the 3-2-1 backup strategy so powerful:
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Comprehensive Data Protection: The 3-2-1 backup strategy involves one primary and two copies or backups. This creates redundancy, protecting your data from hardware failures, accidental deletions, or cyber-attacks.
This method offers comprehensive protection because it is unlikely that all of the copies will be affected simultaneously.
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Regulatory Compliance: Implementing the 3-2-1 backup strategy allows businesses to meet data protection regulations and guidelines. This strategy aligns with the best security practices for disaster recovery and data redundancy.
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Easy Recovery: Thanks to disaster recovery, there's always an option to recover lost data in case of a hardware problem or a cyber attack.
Example of the 3-2-1 Backup Strategy in Practice
Here’s an example demonstrating 3-2-1 backup strategy in action:
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Primary Data: An organization’s primary or original data is stored on its servers.
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First Backup: They store their first copy on a Network-Attached Storage (NAS) device located within the company’s premises.
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Second Backup (off-site copy): The second copy can be stored on a cloud storage platform or a hard drive at a remote location.
Challenges in Implementing the 3-2-1 Backup Strategy
Here are the common obstacles organizations face when implementing the 3-2-1 backup strategy:
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Costs of Maintaining Multiple Copies: Creating and storing multiple copies of data is expensive. Companies must buy storage hardware and software licenses and consider the operational costs.
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Managing Multiple Storage Types: When handling multiple storage types, engineers have to juggle between multiple technologies, ensure compatibility, and maintain the same backup process.
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Handling Compliance Issues: As the 3-2-1 backup strategy requires off-site storage, thorough evaluation becomes necessary to ensure the off-site providers meet the necessary regulations. Ignoring this can put the data at risk of breaches.
Alternatives and Extensions to the 3-2-1 Backup Strategy
Here are some extensions or alternatives to the 3-2-1 backup strategy:
3-2-1-1-0 Strategy
This strategy is an extension of the 3-2-1 backup strategy that adds 2 key components:
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1 Immutable copy: An immutable copy is an additional backup that cannot be modified. This protects against issues like ransomware attacks.
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Zero Errors: This component regularly verifies the backups to ensure they’re all free from errors and recoverable.
4-3-2 Strategy
This is an extension to the 3-2-1 strategy that includes:
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4 Data Copies: One original and 3 backups.
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3 Different Storage Media: Using even more diverse media types to reduce risk.
2 Off-site Copies: 2 instead of 1 off-site copies are created to add further redundancy and resilience.
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