jamsed · · 2 min read
Losing business data — customer records, invoices, designs or your website — can be costly. Hardware failure, accidental deletion, theft, ransomware or a simple mistake can all cause it. Backups are the safety net, and a simple guideline called the 3-2-1 rule makes them easy to plan.
The 3-2-1 rule says to keep three copies of your important data, on two different types of storage, with one copy stored off-site. For example: your working files on your computer, a second copy on an external drive, and a third copy in secure cloud storage.
Each part matters. Multiple copies protect against a single failure; different storage types reduce the chance that one fault affects them all; and an off-site copy protects against fire, theft or damage at your office.
Automate it. Backups that depend on someone remembering usually stop happening. Use scheduled backups that run daily or weekly without effort, and make sure they cover what matters: documents, databases, email and your website files.
Protect the backups too. Use encryption and strong passwords, and keep at least one copy disconnected from your network, since ransomware can encrypt backup drives that stay connected.
Test your restore. A backup you have never tried to restore may fail when you need it. Once or twice a year, restore a few files to check that they open correctly.
For websites, ask your host what backups they provide and how long they keep them, and consider keeping an independent copy of your site files and database. A host’s backup is not a substitute for your own.
Backups are cheap compared with the cost of lost data; setting them up once is one of the best investments in business continuity.
— Onyx Digital Hub builds and manages CMS-powered websites for growing businesses in Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia.
