3-2-1 Backup Strategy
3-2-1 Backup Strategy
LTO is a cost effective way to keep extra and offsite backups efficiently and reliably. With its strength and ability to handle lots of data, LTO is perfect for using the 3-2-1 rule in your organization, making sure your data stays safe and easy to get to.
How to Implement
(3) Copies of Data
The first step of the strategy is to create multiple copies of your critical data - at least 3. The original data on your primary storage serves as the first copy. The other two copies will act as backups to ensure redundancy and protection against data loss.
(2) Different Storage Mediums
The second element of the strategy requires storing the two backup copies on different storage mediums. For example, you might keep one backup on an external hard drive or network-attached storage (NAS), while the second backup could be on tapes, cloud storage, or a remote server. The idea here is to minimize the risk of losing all copies simultaneously due to a single type of failure (e.g., hardware malfunction, fire, or theft).
(1) Offsite Backup
The final aspect of the strategy is to store at least one of the backup copies offsite, away from your primary location where the original data and the other backup(s) are kept. This offsite storage can be in a different physical location, ensuring protection against events like natural disasters, theft, or other catastrophic incidents that could affect your primary site.
Advantages of incorporating LTO into your 3-2-1 backup strategy
Long-Term Data Retention
LTO tapes have a long shelf life, typically lasting for decades under proper conditions, making them suitable for archiving data for the long term.
Cost-Effectiveness
LTO tapes offer a lower cost per terabyte compared to some other storage mediums, which is especially beneficial for storing large volumes of data.
Offline Protection
Since LTO tapes are offline storage, they are not susceptible to cyber threats like ransomware attacks, which often target online or connected storage.
Scalability
LTO technology evolves with new generations, offering increased storage capacity and faster data transfer rates, allowing you to scale your backup storage as your data needs grow.
