Dated: 12-11-2024

Ch02. Backup Strategies

Backup Considerations

• What to backup?
• Backup location?
• Freq of backup?
• Backup operator?
• Backup checker (verification)?
• Backup test & security methods?
• Technology & tools used for backup?

What to Backup

• Network configuration files
• OS backups
• Database and application data
• Other critical data

Backup Location

• Onsite for faster recovery
• Offsite for DR purposes
• Intermediate site (secondary site) as middle ground

Backup Frequency

• Depends entirely on criticality of data, nature of the information being backed up (how frequently does info change?), storage space available, and overall backup plan

Backup Operator and Checker

• Backups should ideally be automated
• Operator should ensure that backups have taken place
• Verifier should sign-off that check has been made

Backup Testing and Security Considerations

• Backup testing should be performed on a periodic basis and greater than frequency of the DR drill (e.g. DR drill once a QTR and testing once a month)
• Encryption and compression

Backup Tools and Technology

• Consider NAS, SAN, SCSI/IDE/SATA drives
• Various tools and technology to perform full, differential, and incremental backups
• Encryption
• Access control
• Alerts & reporting