What is the 3-2-1 backup rule
The 3-2-1 rule means: keep 3 copies of your data, on 2 different types of storage, with 1 copy in a different location. This protects you against almost any disaster.
The 3-2-1 rule is the standard recommendation from data recovery professionals. The three copies are: your original files on the computer, a local backup on an external drive, and a cloud backup. The two storage types protect against media-specific failures — if a power surge destroys everything electrical, your cloud copy survives. The offsite copy protects against physical disasters like fire or theft.
No step-by-step guide available for this issue yet — book a technician directly.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Treating cloud sync services like OneDrive as backups — they propagate deletions instantly
- Never testing whether backups can actually be restored
- Keeping external drives plugged in permanently — ransomware can encrypt those too
Signs you need professional help
- You need help setting up Time Machine, File History, or cloud backup
- You want to test your backups but aren't sure how
- Your business data needs a more formal backup and recovery plan
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