In the modern world when enterprises are more reliant on cloud data, it is crucial to prepare for the chance that anything could go wrong. Making matters worse, there are more dangerous than ever due to the enormous number of breaches and data loss issues brought on by insider threats, cloud misconfiguration, and external malicious actors.
A manual backup strategy is insufficient. Due to the numerous settings involved in backups, even for companies who claim to keep their backups in line with the 3-2-1 backup rule (3 copies of the data on two separate media with one copy off-site [5]), some backup failures may still happen as a result of configuration errors. One of the most frequent errors is setting the retention term inappropriately, without taking into account the demands of the business or the regulation. In this scenario, data loss would come from the restoration of the data failing to function as anticipated.
Here are a few recommendations for best practices in cloud data backup that companies can employ in their daily operations.
Do not omit metadata
The group of data that provides information about other data is directed to as metadata. Traditional metadata might be either structural or descriptive. Since it provides details about labels, ownership, tags, and sharing options, metadata plays a critical role in improving control and collaboration for SaaS apps that are collaboration and messaging tools.
Also Read: Three Questions for Enterprises to Determine the Robustness of their Data Backup Strategy
Unfortunately, not all backup solutions provide metadata, even those offered by cloud service providers. When users learn they can’t restore data back into their SaaS application exactly as it was, with settings, modifications, and associated data linked, this can frustrate and perplex them. Companies should therefore select a system that supports backup and customization of metadata.
Adhere to the 3-2-1 rule
Users must make sure that a backup copy is kept off-site because cloud data backup is a crucial component of the 3-2-1 backup approach. Data storage in the cloud enables a distinct physical separation of data, sometimes preventing the loss of entire data as well as backup copies. Cloud backup, which is the main component of this method, offers the thickest layer of security for data.
Encrypted backup
One of the most significant cloud data backup practices is encrypting transmitted files, where cloud data backup providers always make sure that users’ remote data is secure by encrypting the sent data.
The provider encrypts the backups, which can add an additional layer of protection. Third-party services will access no critical information, and only the users will have access to these copies.
Monitor any backup data
Imagine a scenario where companies attempt to retrieve information from their account only to discover that the data was corrupted or improperly backed up. Therefore, administrators should continually check on all cloud data backups to ensure they are in optimal condition. When issues emerge, they are typically traceable back to the backup procedure. Zero-byte files and other file types that cannot be backed up usually signify data corruption.
Also Read: Four Strategies for Reducing SaaS Security Threats
Admins should continuously monitor SaaS backups using the dashboards, status reposts, and email notifications provided by the cloud-to-cloud backup system. Paying particular attention to these reports can assist businesses in assessing the state of their organization’s data and resolving problems that could have gone missing otherwise.
Don’t employ manual backups
Snapshots and unmanaged copies of databases increase the risk of data leakage and unauthorized access to critical information. Firms should destroy their current unmanaged backup copies, use the automated backup solutions offered by the majority of cloud providers, and put stringent rules in place that forbid the creation of new unmanaged backups.
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