Choosing an effective data backup and recovery strategy

Abstract

The last few years have been record-breaking for cybercriminals, who have caused harm to organizations through various malicious programs. Preventative measures are the best protection, and many recommendations emphasize the importance of having a proper data backup strategy in place for organizations. However, considering the increasing complexity and diversity of IT systems and cyber threats, choosing an effective data backup strategy that would protect all critical organizational data while minimizing data loss and downtime is no easy task today. The article addresses the issue of selecting an effective data backup and recovery strategy. The recommended strategy is the 3-2-1-1-0 rule based on the concept of an «air gap» or «air isolation», implying the creation of a barrier between the backup data and access to that data. This additional data protection feature is used to isolate and disconnect target storage devices from unprotected networks, production environments, and host platforms. The main advantages of using this strategy are the protection against ransomware and other malicious software, since backup copies are inaccessible from the backup server or another network location. Backup data remains offline and protected from such attacks due to isolated storage, ensuring long-term data preservation as well. The immutability of backup copies is the most important component of a reliable data protection strategy. When combined with isolated storage, organizations can increase the security and integrity of their backup copies, ensuring that the data remains safe from online threats, providing a high level of protection. As the digital environment continues to evolve, the need for immutable backup copies with isolated storage is becoming more apparent to both organizations and government institutions.