A failed disk, ransomware or an accidentally deleted file — a properly configured backup saves you in every case. A simple rule every business needs.
Data loss isn’t always caused by hackers: disks fail, laptops get lost, an employee accidentally deletes a folder. Ransomware encrypts every file — often including backups connected to the network.
The 3-2-1 rule
- 3 copies — the original and at least 2 backups;
- 2 different types of media — for example, a server/NAS and the cloud;
- 1 copy off-site — in the cloud or at another physical location.
That way, a fire, theft or ransomware can’t damage every copy at once.
💡 Also: To protect against ransomware, one of the copies should be offline or immutable — something a virus on the network can’t delete or encrypt.
What to back up
- File servers and shared folders;
- Databases of accounting and business applications;
- Corporate email (including Microsoft 365 — the cloud is not a backup);
- Configurations of servers and network devices;
- Important documents stored on employees’ laptops.
How often?
Ask yourself: how many days of work can we afford to lose? If the answer is one day, backups should be daily. For databases that change every hour — more often.
Backups must be automatic. “Manually, whenever we remember” means that at the moment you need it most, the latest copy turns out to be months old.
The most common mistake — a backup nobody ever tested
Having a backup doesn’t mean your files can be restored. Regularly — say, once a month — restore a test file or database and make sure that:
- backups are actually being made (and aren’t silently failing);
- files open and aren’t corrupted;
- you know how long a full restore takes.