Losing data is probably one of the worst things that can happen to anyone. Making matters worse, it doesn’t take much to have it happen either. The good news is that there is one method of backing up data that is not only simple, but it is one of the most effective too. It’s called the 3-2-1 plan.

The 3-2-1 plan has been around for years, but it’s longevity is testimony to how much it can be counted on to protect information that is so vital to organizations. To put it to work, find more details here or read on.

This is the 3-2-1 backup rule in a nutshell.

3 – Keep Three or More Copies of Any Data You Wish to Preserve

It doesn’t matter what the data is. If it’s important enough to want to keep it, make three or more copies of it.

2 – Don’t Make the Mistake of Keeping Two Copies of Your Data on the Same Storage Device

If anything should happen to this device, both copies of the data will be lost and defeat the purpose of having saved the copies. For example, if you have photos or a document on your computer, keep another copy on a storage device that is kept separate from that computer. In most cases it doesn’t matter whether the storage device is something like a thumb drive or a cloud. Keep it separate from your computer.

Unless a company’s data usage is very modest, it makes sense to keep data on backup appliances that are dedicated to the purpose. These work in conjunction with other equipment to harvest data. These can also be dedicated or integrated with equipment that already exists. The only thing that really matters is that the data is kept separate from other copies.

1 – Keep Your Data on Two Different Storage Devices

Keeping data safe is an old idea, but the concept of keeping data off-site is revolutionary in many ways. In fact, the most revolutionary way to preserve data, and one that is gaining acceptance very quickly, is in a data center. Off-site data centers have proven their worth in many ways for several years. Data centers are not only repositories for keeping data safe, but they also add a lot of computing power to the existing facilities of a client. This makes a data center more like an extension of an IT department than just a place to store data.

A company’s data is a lot like blood. It doesn’t do any good for anyone unless it is circulating. By keeping copies of data in accordance with the 3-2-1 backup rule, data can be freely shared within a company by responsible parties without fearing it will find its way to anyone outside of the organization. In addition, this same method of data storage provides the best possible insurance against information being lost.

Even with an off-site storage method, it is a good idea to have a data storage infrastructure that encompasses a range of formats and platforms, all with the purpose of keeping data safe and secure, whatever the mission of the organization might be. Whatever method is used, it is important that data availability, data protection, and price performance be uppermost in the minds of decision makers.