Safeguards

Backup and restore

What is a backup and why must it be tested?

A backup is a copy of your data. What decides its value is the restore: only a tested restore run proves the copy will hold when it counts.

The rule of thumb is 3-2-1: three copies of the data, on two different media, one of them off site. Protection against ransomware adds one property. At least one copy has to be stored so that it can no longer be changed or deleted afterwards, not even by an account with administrator rights.

Two figures help you plan. The recovery point tells you how much work you can afford to lose. The recovery time tells you how long the business may stand still. Together they determine how often you back up and how the backup has to be built.

Backup review in the IT Check

Related terms

The 3-2-1 backup rule The 3-2-1 rule is a rule of thumb for backups: keep three copies of your important data, on two different types of storage media,… Ransomware Ransomware is malware that encrypts your data and demands a ransom to release it. The data is often copied before encryption as w… IT emergency plan An IT emergency plan is a short written instruction setting out who does what during an IT outage or cyber attack, who is contact…

All terms in the knowledge base

Note: This entry reflects the state of knowledge to the best of our understanding and serves as general orientation. It is not legal advice. What counts is always the version currently in force at the responsible body, for example dsb.gv.at, nis.gv.at or enisa.europa.eu.

From the term to practice

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