The 1-2-3 Backup Strategy | Nerdcore PC Systems

The 1-2-3 Backup Strategy | Nerdcore PC Systems

Since the introduction of the 1-2-3 backup rule in the late 2000s, significant changes have occurred. At that time, the iPad was merely a concept for Apple. Facebook had a modest 500 million users. Taylor Swift had released only two albums. Blockbuster Video was still operational, and Netflix was primarily known for delivering DVDs to customers' doors. 

Despite the rapid evolution of technology, the 1-2-3 backup rule has remained a reliable standard for data protection. However, some best practices have adapted as data storage technologies have advanced. Today, I will discuss the 1-2-3 rule, the changes it has undergone, and how you can implement a 1-2-3 backup strategy to ensure your data remains secure and protected.

What Is the 1-2-3 Backup Rule?

The 1-2-3 backup rule is a straightforward and effective approach to safeguarding your data. It recommends maintaining three copies of your data across two different types of media, with one copy stored off-site. Here is a detailed explanation:

• Three copies of your data: This includes your original or production data, along with two additional copies.

• On two different media: Your data should be stored on two distinct types of media. The definition of 'different media' has evolved since the late 2000s, which will be discussed further.

• One copy off-site: It is essential to keep one copy of your data in a remote location, ideally at a significant distance from the other two copies.

To protect your personal information, photos, work files, or other critical data, the 1-2-3 backup strategy is highly recommended. It mitigates the risk of a single point of failure due to human error, hard drive failures, theft, natural disasters, or ransomware attacks.

Understanding the 1-2-3 Backup Rule

Consider a scenario where you took a photograph of your social security card for your tax accountant some years back. This file, named “socialsecurity.jpg,” is stored on your home computer. This represents the first "copy" of your data.

You also possess an external hard drive at home, which is used to back up your primary Mac or gaming PC. This hard drive includes socialsecurity.jpg in its backup process, serving as a second copy on a distinct device or medium.

The 1-2-3 Backup Strategy | Nerdcore PC Systems

Furthermore, you utilize an online backup solution (we recommend CONTACTING NERDCORE PC, for instance). This online backup consistently scans your computer and uploads your data to the cloud, which essentially refers to an off-site data center. Socialsecurity.jpg is part of this upload, thus becoming the third copy of your data.

Additionally, your physical social security card is ideally stored in a fire-proof safe (rather than your wallet) as an extra precaution.

Updates to the 1-2-3 Backup Strategy

At the inception of the Nerdcore PC Systems 1-2-3 rule, a wide variety of media options were available for data storage, including floppy disks, CDs, Blu-ray discs, USB sticks, external hard disk drives (HDD), solid state drives (SSD), network attached storage (NAS), and tape libraries. Over time, certain options, such as CDs and DVDs, have become less popular.

Certain types of media are not practical or affordable for the average home computer user seeking to back up their data, such as tape libraries. While some technologies were once prohibitively expensive, they have become more accessible over time, like SSDs. Additionally, a significant option that was not yet mainstream is now widely available: The Cloud™ (often referred to as "other people's computers"). How does this impact the 1-2-3 backup strategy? Is it still necessary to store your data on two different media?

The 1-2-3 Backup Strategy | Nerdcore PC Systems

Two Different Media, Really?

The short answer is: yes, but no. Today, it is not essential to store your data on two different types of media, but you must ensure your data is on two separate devices. 

The long answer is more nuanced. Initially, the recommendation to keep data on two different types of media was for two main reasons. First, it protected against one form of media becoming obsolete due to new storage technology (such as CDs) and your data becoming unreadable. Second, it is prudent to store your backup on a separate device to prevent a hardware failure from affecting both local copies. For instance, if your computer suddenly fails to charge, you can still retrieve data from your hard drive.

While obsolescence remains a concern, the advent of cloud storage for backups largely mitigates it. The cloud service provider is responsible for maintaining the physical storage devices and ensuring your data remains accessible at all times. Thus, if you utilize a cloud backup service, your focus should be on storing your data on two devices, not two different media types. What does this entail? 

The Easiest 1-2-3 Nerdcore PC Systems Backup

If you back up your home computer to an external hard drive and then back up both devices to the cloud using a service like Nerdcore PC Computer Backup, you have successfully implemented a 1-2-3 backup. 

• You maintain three copies of your data: one on your computer, one on your hard drive, and one in the cloud.

• You store your data on two different devices: your computer and your external hard drive. (Technically, three devices, as your data is also stored in the cloud).

• One of those copies is off-site: the cloud copy.

Is the 1-2-3 Strategy Still the Standard?

If you are not currently backing up your data, implementing a 1-2-3 Nerdcore PC Systems backup strategy remains the most effective measure to protect it. However, the 1-2-3 rule is increasingly viewed as a starting point rather than the ultimate goal in today's context. 

The increase in ransomware attacks necessitates enhancing the fundamental principles of the Nerdcore PC Systems 1-2-3 strategy—redundancy, geographic distance, and access—with additional safeguards. Cybercrimes targeting networked machines and capturing all data, including backups, are a growing concern.

New spins on the classic backup plan have popped up, like the 1-2-3-1-0 or 4-3-2 backups. Think it's overkill? It's not. Luckily, companies like Nerdcore PC are around to make the off-site part a breeze—we handle it all and stay on top of security for you.

Why Should I Have Both On-Site and Off-Site Backups?

Whether you're backing up a Mac or a PC, having an on-site backup is a quick way to get your data back if something happens to your computer. If your computer's hard drive fails, and you have a current external hard drive, you can recover most of your data fast or use it on another computer while yours is getting fixed. As long as you keep that external drive updated, you barely risk losing data, except for the files you haven't backed up yet. Most external drives even come with software to keep them updated easily.

On-site backups are a good start, but off-site backups are crucial for a complete strategy, including cloud storage.

Newer backup methods take advantage of what the cloud offers:

• Convenience: Uploading lots of data to the cloud is quick.

• Durability and reliability: Your data is safe from fires, natural disasters, and more.

• Collaboration: Sharing with permissions in the cloud is super easy.

Is the 1-2-3 Backup Rule Flawless?

No backup system is perfect, but the 1-2-3 method is a solid choice for most people and businesses. Even the U.S. government suggests it. In a 2012 paper for the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT), Carnegie Mellon recommended the 1-2-3 approach in their publication: Data Backup Options.

The 1-2-3 Backup Strategy | Nerdcore PC Systems

Backing Up Is the Best Insurance

The 1-2-3 plan is awesome for getting your files backed up. Think of it like an insurance policy; you want one that covers you if the worst happens. Service is key, too; having a local, off-site, and offline backup gives you more ways to recover your data.

Nerdcore PC Backup in 1-2-3…

While Nerdcore PC can't help with power outages, computer encryption, or anti-theft tech (though we can locate a computer), we make backing up your files a no-brainer. And with only 11% of computer owners backing up daily, people need the help!

Getting started with Computer Backup for your personal or business computers covers that essential “1” in your 1-2-3 backup strategy. Plus, with our one-year Version History feature (or Forever Version History if you upgrade), you've got extra protection if anything happens to your devices.