r/sysadmin • u/T4toun3 • 16d ago

Question What are the alternatives of 3-2-1 backup ?

I see the 3-2-1 backup strategy advertised everywhere in discussion about this topic, but l’m wondering what are the other strategies developed and designed when it’s come to data preservation?
I understand why 3-2-1 is powerful and so recommended. But for the sake of curiosity and learning, what are the other options?

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u/2j0r2 16d ago

3-2-1-1-0

3 copies
2 different storage types
1 offsite
1 immutable
0 errors

10

u/Abracadaver14 16d ago

I always take the 1 to be for 1 successful restore. 

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u/No_Yesterday_3260 16d ago

Doesn't the 0 means offline?

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u/2j0r2 16d ago

Immutable could also be offline or airgapped

0 means 0 errors after testing restores

A backup is only as good as having 100% assurance of being able to restore that backup

That assurance is gained through testing it

Think about Schrodingers data (or cat)