California Metro Patrol usually focuses on securing your peace of mind in your physical home and business, but should burglary or theft occur, the loss you suffer could be more than possessions and equipment. In this post, we address having a backup plan if your important digital data is stolen or lost. Whether it’s photos of your family and family events, music, and family legal documents or business files, payroll and financial information for your business, data loss due to burglary, (or fire, flood, or other disaster) is a real risk.
The 3-2-1 Backup Rule – the technological rule of thumb of saving data – can help you keep your data secure.
Many families and businesses don’t realize the importance of data backup until it’s it’s too late. Irreplaceable photos and memories or confidential data and work files are lost; business continuity is interrupted.
Commercial businesses comprise 23 percent of all burglaries. Today’s cutting-edge technology makes electronics like computers, laptops, tablets, cell phones lucrative to burglars. This is where 3-2-1 Backup Rule is imperative: most of these electronics hold lots of sensitive data. Just one computer may store critical information to your entire business!
The 3-2-1 Backup Rule is effective for most data – even the US-CERT (United State Computer Emergency Readiness Team) recommends this method of backup security. The strategy’s goal is to keep your data secure, minimize loss and downtime.
The 3-2-1 Backup Rule is Simple:
- THREE: Keep 3 copies of your data
- On your computer: a working file, 2 backups of that file
- TWO: Back up data on 2 different storage media types or devices and locations
- External hard drive, USB drives, digital tape or other media; for added protection, next, store the media in 2 different locations
- ONE: Store at least 1 backup copy of the data offsite location
- Cloud storage or off-network server in a location other than where you live or work
Should your computer and/or hard drive get stolen during a burglary (or damaged by disaster or infected by malware, even infecting your secondary storage,) your offsite storage can save your data. The scenario seems unlikely but other than cash and jewelry, computers and other devices are very popular items among burglars, home or commercial.
The double layer of data protection gives you greater data access and retrieval should you need it. Whether you need to back up your cute pet photos or your business’s organizational and customer data, implementing the the 3-2-1 Backup Rule for data security and disaster recovery minimizes the risk of data loss.
Additional Tips:
- Ensure the security of your backup devices – you need to access them in case of loss. Keep external hard drives in a safe or other similar place.
- Further, you can permit access to only authorized individuals with secure passwords.
- Perform backups often so you have the latest versions of your information.
- Check your backup devices to make sure they are in good working order and recording your data accurately.
- Make sure your offsite backup is with a service that provides data encryption and use other recommended data security practices such as firewalls.
Fine Points of Layered Security
A cornerstone of California Metro Patrol is Layered Security. We specialize in tailored, concierge security services; we survey your home or business from the curb to the door and inside and recommend the best security system for you. Along with that, we care about your quality of life and your business success. Security information like this gives you finer points of layers of security besides the security layers that protects your property.
With just a quick click, request a no-obligation quote today or you can call us at 888-788-0813.
Life is unpredictable. Always be prepared for the best and the worst.
