The 3-2-1 Backup Rule: A Practical Guide for Businesses

A backup is a separate copy of your files and business data. It can help you recover from hardware or software failure, a cyberattack or human error—incidents that might otherwise result in permanent data loss.

What is the 3-2-1 backup rule?

The 3-2-1 rule is a straightforward way to reduce the risk of losing important data:

• Keep three copies of your data: the original and two backups.
• Store them on two different types of media.
• Keep one copy off-site, away from your office or home.

Multiple copies reduce the chance of losing everything at once. Using different storage media helps protect against a single device failure, while an off-site copy can help if fire, flooding or theft affects the primary location.

Backups need regular checks

For a business, having backups is only part of the job: they should be maintained and tested so you know your data can be restored. Quantum BITS’ IT support includes monthly backups and daily checks of the digital tools your business relies on.

Contact Quantum BITS to discuss a support plan tailored to your business.