The 3-2-1 backup rule: how to protect your company data
Most companies think they have backups — until the day they need them. A failed disk, a deleted folder or a ransomware attack shows whether the backup really works. The 3-2-1 rule is the simplest way to be sure.
What is the 3-2-1 rule?
- 3 copies of your data: the original and two backups.
- 2 different types of storage, for example a NAS in the office and cloud storage.
- 1 copy outside the office, so a fire, theft or flood does not destroy everything.
Why backups fail
- The backup job stopped months ago and nobody noticed.
- The only copy is on the same server or the same network share, so ransomware encrypts it too.
- Nobody has ever tried to restore, so nobody knows how long recovery takes.
A simple plan for a small company
- Daily automatic backup of servers and databases to a local backup server or NAS.
- A second copy every night to the cloud or a second location in Armenia.
- Keep at least one copy that cannot be changed or deleted for a set period (immutable).
- Test a restore every month and write down how long it took.
- Get an alert when a backup job fails.
How much data can you afford to lose?
Two numbers help to plan: RPO — how many hours of work you can afford to lose, and RTO — how quickly you must be working again. For accounting databases RPO is often a few hours; for file shares one day may be fine.
Need help?
InfoLab designs and runs backup systems with Veeam, Proxmox Backup Server and cloud storage for companies in Yerevan and across Armenia, including monthly restore tests.
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