Written by: Gennifer Biggs on 11/01/24

As part of our goal to educate businesses about technology best practices, we usually post weekly blogs about a monthly theme – cybersecurity, business continuity, compliance, etc. This month, we’re doing something a little bit different. We are sharing a month full of tips on all things business technology – something we like to call Know-vember. We’ll do quick hits on everything from the 3-2-1 backup rule to DMARC to phishing and vishing. You don’t want to miss it! Follow us on Facebook or LinkedIn to see the daily tips, or, each Friday we’ll post a recap blog right here that shares all of the week’s advice in one place. 

Our First Tech Tip:  Plan Your Backup with the 3-2-1 Rule 

A robust backup plan is essential for any business but is especially crucial for small and midsize businesses (SMBs) that can’t afford extended downtime. The 3-2-1 backup rule is a simple but effective strategy:

  • Keep THREE copies of your data (one primary and two backups)
  • Store them on TWO different types of media (e.g., local hard drives and cloud storage)
  • Keep at least ONE copy offsite

The reasoning follows that even if a disaster strikes, like a server failure or ransomware attack, you’ll have data stored in multiple locations, reducing the risk of permanent loss. Regularly test backups to ensure they work when needed.

As an MSP, we’ve been through countless disasters, including Hurricane Sandy right here at our New Jersey headquarters. While it may seem redundant at times, using the 3-2-1 rule can be the difference between losing all your data or having quick access to it when your customers may need you the most.

Want to learn more about creating a seamless business continuity plan? Download our free guide

Check back next week for more!