What is the backup policy?
Backups are an essential part of a business's technological and logistics platform, it must be part of the business continuity planning, being a timely backup in unexpected moments and even now required by the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
Therefore, the way in which the backup process is carried out requires robustness and this is consolidated by a precise, clear and company-adapted backup policy. These policies determine:
- How the process will begin
- What hardware, software and human factor will be involved
- where the data will be stored
- How will it work? data recovery plan
If you found this post interesting, you might also be interested in this free PDF guide: Replacing tape with the cloud in backup workflows.
What should the backup policy contain?
The backup policy must cover various aspects, the most relevant being the following:
Area of application
This backup policy defines what type of data will use the data backup and What security levels will integrate each of them. In this way, the data can be classified according to its nature and stored in segments with different levels of security (user data, system data and application data).
Backup frequency
Within the backup policy The frequency of copies is of great importance, since it is from the last backup that data recovery from the technological platform can be performed.
In multi-site SMEs, backups are usually decentralized and the volume of transactions is very high, therefore, the frequency with which such copies are required is greater than what may be needed in an SME with centralized data storage.
Backup support
A company's IT security must have solid and efficient support. Rely on tools and servers such as the cloud of Amazon Web Services is one of the best options.
This service cloud storage provides support and assistance at all times, and also has one of the best IT security teams for proper and efficient protection of your data.
backup type
The backup can be done using different methods, you can use Full, differential and incremental backups.
Full backups save all the data available at that time, and differential backups save data that has changed since the last full backup. Incremental backups, on the other hand, only save data that has changed since the last backup, regardless of whether it was a full, differential, or incremental backup. Depending on your business needs, it may be convenient to use a full backup. choose a backup type or another.
Storing backups
This policy establishes What will be the fate of the data that is collected? during the backup. Nowadays, there are new information storage devices available, however, the most recommended option is to opt for cloud storage.
Data recovery plan
The data recovery process should be defined in the data backup policy. It should establish those responsible and accountable for this process. Likewise, it requires established time limits for its implementation and data recovery.
