![]() Smart enterprises split such functions among cloud providers for redundancy. No longer the simple system it once was, the 3-2-1 backup rule now encompasses many possible configurations-but the concept remains as relevant as ever, even as it evolves to fit the realities of the cloud and the needs of modern data placement.Ĭloud providers offer a form of all-cloud 3-2-1 in which customers store everything on a high-performance cloud tier, keep another copy in a lower tier, and a third copy in a cold storage tier. This “air gapped” backup-one not connected to the internet-can be used to recover from digital or physical theft, with no network connection over which to introduce malware. The best approach for a secure and recoverable backup is to keep one copy on tape, which can be stored offsite. More than a few companies have restored their files from backups only to find that they reintroduced the ransomware into their environment in the process-or worse, that their backups had also been encrypted or corrupted. Is it enough to keep a backup copy or two in the cloud? Probably not-any cyberattacker who can get into enterprise systems might also be able to quietly infect all systems connected to the internet. Backups stored on-site can be corrupted or infected by ransomware or other malware. Good backups stored securely provide a very real line of defense against cyber threats. In recent years, 3-2-1 has taken on added importance because of the increased threat of cyberattack. Done correctly, 3-2-1 means that in the event of an outage or disaster, IT can turn to its backup files for a reliable copy of enterprise data. The 3-2-1 pattern evolved over time as the best way to ensure that copies of organizational data are always to hand for operational recovery. ![]() Keeping a backup copy of data in the same location or on the same storage media mitigates its usefulness if something goes wrong. Risk is rampant-drives fail, people make mistakes and delete files, natural disasters can flood offices. But having a copy is not enough to guarantee its safety. But what has not changed is the essential best practice at the heart of it: three copies, two different media, one stored offsite.īacking up important data is the baseline. Which is to say that the clearcut definition of the original 3-2-1 backup rule has grayed with age. But the concept has evolved over time to keep pace with new technologies.įor example, some businesses keep one of the backup copies on disk or on a deduplication appliance, some keep one on disk and another in the cloud, while others still store backups on two different clouds-with the same provider, shared between two providers, or in a public and a private cloud. In the early days of computing, it meant keeping the original copy on an on-premises server with the other two copies-backups kept on tape-split between on- and off-site locations. The 3-2-1 backup rule has long been a popular strategy for backing up mission critical data. Bottom Line: Ensuring Reliability With 3-2-1 Backup.Is the 3-2-1 Backup Rule Still Relevant?.Why is the 3-2-1 Backup Rule Important?.It’s been the standard in data protection for decades, but is it still relevant in the cloud era? This article unpacks the 3-2-1 backup rule and makes recommendations for how enterprises can replicate the benefits and security it brought to their data in the context of today’s complex storage solutions. The 3-2-1 backup rule is a time-honored best practice that recommends keeping three copies of critical data-the original plus two backup copies-each stored on a different media, with one kept off site. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Enterprise Storage Forum content and product recommendations are editorially independent.
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