3-2-1 Backup Rule
Original Published Date: January 8th, 2019
Last Updated: November 13th, 2024
Forward Thinking and Planning
One of the biggest decisions a small business or home users face is choosing local or online cloud storage for backups. Ask any professional who provides backup solutions for advice on the matter, and the answer is going to be both.
Storing copies of your files locally and in the cloud lets maintain the advantages of both solutions while removing all the disadvantages.
What is the 3-2-1 Backup Rule?
The 3-2-1 backup rule is the most important backup rule to follow. It states you should always keep three copies of your files. Two local copies should be different storage mediums and one off-site.
Three Copies of Your Files
Keeping at least three copies of your data may seem like too many, at first glance. A client or company often has a backup when they request my help with data recovery. However, that one backup was insufficient or still led to a data loss. Having one backup isn’t enough. Your chances for a catastrophe increase if your data is only stored on the same premises, computer, or type of media.
Location is key. While, the more copies of your backup you have, the less chance you have to lose all of them at once.
The key is having them in more than one place. It all begins with at least three copies of your data – the primary data, two backups of this data, and one remote copy.
Two Different Media Types
Every storage device will fail sooner or later. Computers (desktop, laptop, or server), a storage medium (hard drive, SSD, flash memory), or network appliances like a NAS fail over time from defects, malicious software, or simply wear out. Two devices of the same type or with the same media have a much greater risk of failing together or at the same time. You can decrease your chances of data loss with different device types and storage mediums.
For an example of the 3-2-1 backup rule if your primary data is on the internal hard drive of your laptop, then your backup copies should be on a server or Network Attached Storage Device. A Network Attached Storage (NAS), is my preference for home, home office, and small business users. A NAS is directly attached to your network and is used for the storage of your important data in redundant (mirrored) format. A NAS is more resilient as it is not vulnerable to most viruses or malicious software that targets Windows computers.
One Off-site Backup
At least one backup copy should be kept off-site. Storing all copies of data locally or in a building or office is a no-go. Following the 3-2-1 backup will help you avoid data losses from natural disasters, fire, and theft. One copy should be off-site in a remote location, such as an offsite location or cloud storage. To get the most out of keeping your data off-site it should be in another state. Keeping your data geographically separated is best.
Data backup solutions are now available.
The Rule in Use for Real-World Solutions
Planning is usually the first part of solution design. The rule isn’t perfect, and I am not even sure there is a perfect backup system, but the 3-2-1 increases the likelihood that your data will be there when you need it. Keeping multiple copies stipulated by the 3-2-1 backup rule protects you from losing your primary data since you have a local backup copy.
Second, it grants you the advantage of having it local and readily available fast. Third, two local copies eliminate a single point of failure. Using different storage mediums or devices decreases your chances of something going wrong with two like devices.
The best solutions are implemented with good reporting and frequently monitored. The 3-2-1 backup rule is only part of a plan, but should always be included.
Finally, the off-site backup should be your last resort if something happens to the primary data that is local.
Veeam and Backblaze: Who They Are and Their Advocacy for the 3-2-1 Backup Rule
Veeam and Backblaze are two companies that provide data backup solutions. Both advocate for the 3-2-1 backup rule, as a proven strategy for ensuring data resilience in case of hardware failures, cyberattacks, or other disasters.
Veeam is a global leader in backup, disaster recovery, and data management solutions for enterprise-level backup and recovery services for virtual, physical, and cloud-based environments. Veeam Backup & Replication, allows large and medium businesses to quickly back up and restore data. As cyberattacks become more sophisticated, data breaches become more common, and natural disasters are unpredictable, the 3-2-1 backup rule provides a structured approach to safeguarding critical data.
Backblaze is an online backup provider known for its affordable and user-friendly backup solutions, especially targeted toward small businesses and consumers. Backblaze provides cloud backup services that automatically and continuously back up data for users, ensuring that their important files are safe from hardware failure, theft, or other disasters. Backblaze emphasizes that having multiple copies of data in different locations (both physical and cloud-based) is crucial for long-term data protection. Their cloud storage solutions align with the rule by offering off-site cloud backups, helping users meet the “one copy off-site” requirement.
Hard drive and SSD Storage manufacturers Western Digital and Seagate recommend following the strategy.
Why I suggest the is the 3-2-2-2-1-0 Backup Rule
It is similar to the 3-2-1 Backup rule just with slight extra protections based on real-world data loss scenarios I have observed from home users and small businesses.
(3) Three Copies of your Critical Data.
Three full copies of all critical data must exist.
(2)Two Full Copies of all your Data, on (2) Two Different Local Devices, with (at least 2) two Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS)
Two full copies of all data locally, on two separate devices, both local data copies will be hooked to a separate UPS.
(1) One Off-site Cloud Backup
One copy all critical data using an offsite cloud backup service (not a sync service like Dropbox or OneDrive).
(0) Backups on the same Power Source
Have now two backups (devices) on the same internal or external power supply.
The 3-2-2-2-1 Rule in Use for Real-World Solutions
The easiest way to implement giving one computer as an example is to set up a full image, and file level back to a Synology NAS. The computer and the Synology would each be on their wall outlet and have each have one UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supplies). Then all critical data from the computer would be sent to an offsite cloud backup service.
Each additional computer would be on its separate power source (wall outlet and UPS) with full backups to the NAS and critical data to the Cloud Backup provider.
Conclusion
In short, the 3-2-1 backup rule is a fundamental approach to data protection that helps reduce risk, improve reliability, and ensure peace of mind for businesses and individuals alike. Both Veeam and Backblaze recommend it as a critical best practice for data security.