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🎓 Purpose

Data can be lost through simple error, a system failure, or a malicious interference or attack. A good backup strategy will minimize such loss and allow you to recover faster to carry on your research. 

👥 Audience

FACULTY RESEARCHERS ADMIN STAFF IT STAFF STUDENTS

✅ Best practices

🗑️ Determine what data to backup according to whether the data are volatile or disposable. 

  • Some data does not need to be backed up because they are temporary in nature 

  • Decide how often to take a backup based on how much data you are willing to lose.

  • Establish a schedule and workflow for major backups (after major edits or alterations).

⌚ Keep several points in time or versions of your backups.

  • A strategy of 3-2-1 is considered best practice.

 3 copies

  • You should have at least 3 copies of your data.

 2 storage mediums

  • You should have backups stored on at least 2 different storage mediums (e.g., 1 in the cloud and 1 stored locally).

    • 1 of these backups should be unalterable from the Internet; either on an external drive disconnected from your system or via a backup solution that does not allow rewrites.

 1 off-site

  • You have one 1 backup that is off-site, meaning not in close proximity to your primary backup (either virtual or physical).

  • Ensure you are retaining backup copies long enough to allow for rollbacks to last clean version of data (in case of delayed ransomware). 

🔐 Protect your backups from unauthorized access by others.

  • Encrypt your backups, otherwise a download will provide all of your data and/or intellectual property.

  • Limit physical and electronic access to your backups to prevent unauthorized people from viewing, altering, deleting your backups.

✉️ Additional help

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