PERSPECTIVES FROM THE CAMPUS
One of the strengths of Indiana is that we bring together a variety of perspectives from the plethora of areas that touch the field of cyber, especially through the colleges, universities, and other institutions of higher education throughout our state. Hence the name, “Perspectives from the Campus”, we invite experts – immersed in the pursuit of educating their students – to offer their knowledge for finding solutions in cybersecurity that benefit all Hoosiers.
In the latest installment of this series, David Dungan, who serves as the executive director at the Center for Security Services and Cyber Defense at Anderson University, discusses the importance of (always) having a data backup strategy and why it’s your best defense when it comes to protecting your files whether you’re at work or at home.
By David Dungan
It’s not if you’re going to experience data loss, but when.
And, while a “one day holiday”, such as World Backup Day, is a helpful, albeit annual, reminder of the reality of how fragile our digital ecosystem can be, the truth is, all of us need to have a strategy for backing up our data – every day of the year.
After all, devices may fail, files accidentally get deleted, and there is always the looming threat of a cyber incident, an online scam, or a cyberattack. Whether it’s our personal photos, school assignments, or critical company data, having a reliable backup strategy is more than just a habit, it’s essential for keeping our personal and financial information secure.
Ransomware and Data Loss
One of the biggest modern threats to data is ransomware, which is a type of malware that locks or encrypts your files. Often, the result is a demand for payment to restore access. To minimize these risks, utilizing a secure backup is your best defense.
Immutable Backups
Some attackers may try to delete backups before encrypting files. A way to counteract this would be to use immutable backups. Immutable backups cannot be modified or deleted by anyone for a certain period of time. When designing your strategy, you can also consider other types of backups to suit your needs, such as full, incremental, differential, synthetic full, or snapshot backups.
The 3-2-1 Backup Rule
A common and effective strategy for protecting data is the 3-2-1 backup rule, which includes:
- Creating and maintaining three copies of your data - the original file plus two backup copies.
- Using two different forms of media - such as using an external storage.
- Setting up one backup that is stored on offsite, such as in the cloud.
As an example, you can implement this by keeping your original files stored on your laptop, saving a local backup stored to an external hard drive, and then a final offsite backup in the cloud. Some cloud storage solutions like OneDrive or Google Drive allow for some free storage which might be enough for personal use.
Test Your Recovery Plan
A backup is only as good as its ability to be restored, which is why it is important to occasionally test restoring files from your backup system to make sure all files are present and everything is configured correctly.
If everything is configured correctly you should be able to:
- Wipe the “infected” system.
- Restore your files from a backup.
- Change passwords if the system was infected by malware.
- If the backup is recent, you should be able to continue working with minimal disruption.
Beyond malware and ransomware, there are countless scenarios that make a strong continuity strategy necessary. It’s also a good idea to consider purchasing a new device and smoothly transfer your data over to it. Everyday accidents happen, from lost, stolen, or broken devices to accidental file deletions. Even standard hardware failures can erase data.
Ultimately, backing up your data isn’t just a best practice, it's something that brings peace of mind. And if you haven’t done it recently, be sure to take the time to do it before it’s too late. And, hey, when it rolls around on the calendar, you can use World Backup Day as an opportunity to review your storage solutions, test your recovery plans, and ensure your important files are protected!