Why the 3-2-1 Rule is So Important

For those of you that read our blog often, you know we often mention how backing up your business information systems is a crucial part of protecting your organization's IT infrastructure. One of the best rules of thumb when considering your data backup is what is called the 3-2-1 rule. Let’s go through what the 3-2-1 rule is and why it works to protect your business’ digital assets. 

3-2-1

Here is what we mean when we mention the 3-2-1 rule:

• Protect three copies of your data - Maintain three updated copies of data, including the original.
• Using two different types of media – Use two different media types for storage. This can help reduce any impact that may be attributable to one specific storage media type. It’s your decision as to which storage medium will contain the original data and which will contain any of the additional copies. We recommend a hard copy and one backed up to the cloud. 
• Keep one copy offsite – Keep one copy offsite to prevent the possibility of data loss due to a site-specific failure.

The 3-2-1 rule should be considered a baseline. Many organizations mandate more than three copies of managed data, however. In fact, some may split the data between one or more production, backup (possibly using an alternative media), and disaster recovery sets (potentially offsite). Others may have more unique requirements, but the 3-2-1 rule is as good a place to start as any.

What is the Benefit of the 3-2-1 Rule?

The benefits of the 3-2-1 rule are basically that, regardless of what your organization is faced with, you will have a redundant copy of organizational data to use. If something happens to your onsite hardware and your data isn’t available, you have a full backup that presumably is ready for use. If you are the victim of a ransomware attack, you have an easy-to-recover copy onsite that is ready to go. 

At BNMC, our managed IT services come with a comprehensive BDR service that utilizes this basic rule to ensure that you have access to data regardless of the situations that befall your business. Give us a call today at (978) 482-2020 to learn more about data backup and keeping the digital health of your business in mind when you make IT decisions.