Data loss is one of the most serious threats to any company — regardless of size.
A ransomware attack, disk failure, or human error can paralyse operations in minutes.
That’s why regular backups and a solid recovery plan are the foundation of cybersecurity and business continuity strategies.
Why Backups Matter
Backups protect against data loss caused by:
- hardware failures,
- cyberattacks (e.g., ransomware),
- human errors,
- natural disasters.
Regular backups ensure that even after an incident, you can quickly restore critical data and minimise system downtime.
Backups aren’t a cost — they’re an investment in operational resilience.
Types of Backups
The choice of backup type depends on your needs, data change frequency, and available resources:
- Full backups – copy all data. Most complete, but takes the most space.
- Incremental backups – save only changes since the last backup. Efficient, but recovery requires the full chain.
- Differential backups – save changes since the last full backup. Faster recovery than incremental.
Use a mix: full backups weekly, incremental/differential daily.
The 3-2-1 Backup Strategy
The golden rule of backups: 3 copies, 2 different media, 1 offsite.
- 3 copies – primary data + two backups.
- 2 media – e.g., disk + cloud.
- 1 offsite – store one copy in a remote location (cloud or external site).
This protects against local failures and ransomware.
Automate Your Backups
Manual backups are unreliable and error-prone.
Automate the process with tools like:
- Built-in solutions – Windows Backup, Time Machine (macOS).
- Enterprise tools – Veeam, Acronis, Rubrik for centralised management.
- Cloud backups – AWS Backup, Azure Site Recovery, Google Cloud Backup.
Schedule daily/weekly runs and monitor for failures.
Test Your Backups Regularly
A backup is only as good as its recovery.
Regular restore tests verify:
- if backups are complete,
- if recovery time objective (RTO) is acceptable,
- if data meets recovery point objective (RPO).
No tests = no certainty that your backups actually work.
Testing Backups
Simulate failures and incidents to confirm your backup system works.
In tests, evaluate:
- staff readiness,
- procedure accuracy,
- data integrity after restore.
This is a key part of your Disaster Recovery plan.
Protect Your Backups
Backups themselves are valuable targets for cyberattacks.
Secure them with:
- data encryption,
- access restrictions to authorised personnel only,
- physical protection of media,
- network segmentation for backup systems.
Best-Practice Examples
- Microsoft – backs up servers in multiple locations and regularly tests recovery.
- Amazon Web Services (AWS) – uses data redundancy across geographic regions.
- Banks and financial institutions – implement strict backup and retention policies compliant with regulations (e.g., DORA, ISO 27001).
Get in Touch
I help companies design and implement backup strategies and data recovery plans aligned with industry best practices.
I offer audits, automation setup, and effectiveness testing.
Email: biuro@wichran.pl
Phone: +48 515 601 621
Author: Piotr Wichrań – Court-appointed IT forensic expert, IT/OT cybersecurity specialist, licensed private investigator
@Informatyka.Sledcza