? EDITOR ’ S QUESTION //
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IN 2022 DATA PROTECTION MUST BE AN
INDISPENSABLE COMPONENT
OF EVERY SME ’ S DIGITAL
TRANSFORMATION STRATEGY .
R ecognising that today , more than ever , an SME ’ s data can be lost by accident , damaged by a natural disaster , or fall victim to cybercrime , in 2022 data protection must be an indispensable component of every SME ’ s Digital Transformation strategy .
For SMEs the 3-2-1 backup rule is the golden rule . This means that the SME must keep three copies of data saved across at least two media types , with one more copy saved offsite . SMEs should seek a backup solution that makes this easy to implement .
The ideal backup solution will enable a backup script to a local destination and a backup transfer script to an offsite target . Using a transfer script to copy backups to a second location enables the SME to perform the operation offline , without the original source needing to be used .
There are various options available for implementing 3-2-1 workflows . The first possibility is disk and cloud . Combining local disks and cloud storage locations is a common pattern for an SME backup strategy . An available backup on a local disk translates into very fast recovery time , as the local network allows for much higher bandwidth .
A remote backup on a cloud storage location insulates the SME ’ s business data from disaster , malware and other problems that arise . The second option is network-attached storage ( NAS ) and cloud . NAS devices are an affordable on-site storage location for backups . Leveraging an on-site NAS ensures a large , dedicated storage pool and high bandwidth for an SME ’ s backups . Transferring those backups to the cloud as an offline
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GOING BEYOND
THE 3-2-1 BACKUP RULE PROVIDES THE SME WITH EXTRA INSURANCE TO PROTECT THEIR DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION INITIATIVES .
process allows the SME to avoid touching the original source multiple times .
The third option is disk and tape . Disk remains the most common storage media and tape continues to make strides in speed and storage capacity . With a local disk , the SME can quickly back up their environment and have the backups available for fast restore . Using a tape library for offsite storage enables the SME to store their backups in a safe location ( like a security deposit box or a thirdparty storage locker ) that – unlike the cloud – the SME has physical access to .
Of course , going beyond the 3-2-1 backup rule provides the SME with extra insurance to protect their Digital Transformation initiatives . The SME can choose to utilise a second cloud storage location ( i . e ., 3-2-2 strategy ) or NAS , tape and / or cloud ( i . e ., 3-3-2 strategy ) for added redundancy .
Finally , utilising WORM storage in the cloud with immutable backups provides the best protection against ransomware attacks . With a locked backup , malware cannot delete your critical data , enabling the SME to recover if the worst does happen . By combining the 3-2-1 backup with immutable backups in the cloud , administrators can ensure their corporate data is protected against the latest threat landscape .
JG HEITHCOCK , GENERAL MANAGER OF RETROSPECT , A STORCENTRIC COMPANY
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