One IT Rule Still Rings True
Over the years, technology has changed rapidly and to a great extent. In the IT world, this is particularly true – it wasn’t all that long ago that IT was little more than a side effect of the Internet. Now, it’s an industry of its own, helping to bring companies insights that they would otherwise have no concept of.
While no one denies that technology has changed and left behind outdated methods and techniques, that isn’t to say that every old way is without merit. In fact, one standby has stood the test of time and continues to help companies manage their data.
Data backup is as easy as 3-2-1
When it comes to backing up data, businesses should stick the same rule that’s been around since data backup first became necessary: the 3-2-1 rule. This standard states the following, according to Windows IT Pro:
- Companies should have at least three copies of their data
- That backup data should be stored in two different formats
- There should be one off-site storage location
In the event of disasters, it is essential that companies should backup their data, but simply storing another copy of data in the same building is not enough. We’re so accustomed to cyber threats these days that it’s easy to forget that natural or physical emergencies can be devastating for data storage. During September 11, 2001, several companies in the World Trade Center lost all of their digital assets because that data was stored solely in those offices. Events like these are unlikely, but must be accounted for.
IT managers that store data backups as far away from headquarters as possible are making a wise decision. Even facilities in the same region or nation can succumb to a widespread disaster. Data centers or storage buildings in an entirely different part of the world provide the best protection.
Backup data tape management fits perfectly within the 3-2-1 rule. The rule requires that more than one method of storage be used – this allows for the original copy, a data tape, and a third to be specified as necessary. Data tapes are also easily stored and transported between locations. To this end, businesses should take advantage of tape management software to inventory, track and locate tapes as they move in and out of different facilities. Like the 3-2-1 rule itself, data tapes are modern classics that are still effective.