In the ever-evolving digital landscape, data resilience is not just a strategy but a necessity that ensures the continuity and survival of businesses. I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Harriet Lawson, a seasoned IT consultant with over two decades of experience in data management, to delve into the intricacies of data resilience, particularly focusing on the 3-2-1 rule, which has been the gold standard for backup and recovery strategies.
Harriet began by emphasising the paramount importance of creating multiple copies of data. “The fundamental principle,” she explained, “is to have at least three copies of your data, including the original. This isn’t just a safety net; it’s about ensuring that if one copy fails—or even two—you still have data to fall back on.” Harriet recounted an instance from her consulting career where a client narrowly escaped a data catastrophe because they adhered to this rule. A sudden power spike had corrupted their primary data, but thanks to their adherence to the 3-2-1 rule, they quickly restored everything from their secondary copies.
Diversifying storage devices is another cornerstone of data resilience. Harriet shared, “Relying on a single type of storage is like putting all your eggs in one basket. We often recommend using at least two different storage devices, such as a combination of disk and tape, or disk and cloud storage.” She recounted a scenario where a client’s server room was flooded. The client’s local disks were rendered useless, but because they had a backup on a cloud platform, they managed to retrieve their critical data without significant downtime.
Storing one of these copies off-site is also crucial. Harriet illustrated this point with a story about a small business that suffered a devastating fire. “Their physical backups were all destroyed,” she said, “but they had an off-site backup. It was a lifesaver for them, allowing the business to continue operating with minimal interruption.” This practice is particularly relevant in today’s context, where natural disasters and cyber threats are on the rise.
In our discussion, Harriet also touched on the importance of keeping one backup copy offline. “Having a copy offline, preferably in a secure cloud environment, adds an additional layer of protection against ransomware attacks, which are becoming increasingly sophisticated.” She noted that while online backups are convenient, they are also vulnerable to cyber threats. An offline copy acts as an impregnable fortress, immune to such digital assaults.
Verification of backups was another key point Harriet drove home. “Creating backups is one thing; ensuring they are error-free and restorable is another,” she cautioned. This involves regularly testing backups to confirm that they are complete and functional. Harriet shared an anecdote about a company that discovered too late that their backups had been corrupted all along because they had never tested them. “It’s a simple task, but one that can save you from disaster.”
Throughout our conversation, Harriet’s insights were punctuated with real-world examples of businesses that had either thrived or faltered based on their approach to data resilience. Her experiences underscored the necessity of not just having a backup strategy but implementing it with precision and regular updates.
As our discussion wound to a close, Harriet left me with a final thought: “Data resilience isn’t just about preventing data loss; it’s about ensuring business continuity. A well-executed backup and recovery plan means that you can face any challenge head-on, with the confidence that your data—and by extension, your business—is secure.”
In the modern digital era, where data is the lifeblood of commerce, Harriet Lawson’s insights serve as a crucial reminder of the importance of a robust data resilience strategy. By embracing the 3-2-1 rule, diversifying storage solutions, keeping offline copies, and regularly verifying backups, businesses can safeguard themselves against the unpredictable twists of fate that threaten their data integrity.
Koda Siebert