backupprocedures

Backup procedures are formal instructions that govern the capture, storage, and restoration of data to protect organizations against loss from hardware failures, software errors, human mistakes, malware, or natural disasters.

A typical backup procedure identifies critical data, selects backup types (full, incremental, differential, and synthetic backups), sets retention periods, and defines backup windows and media. Many organizations follow the 3-2-1 rule: three copies of data on two different media with at least one copy offline or offsite.

Operational steps include provisioning backup jobs, configuring sources and destinations, and implementing data integrity checks and verification tests. Security considerations cover encryption of data at rest and in transit, access controls, and secure key management. Documentation and cataloging of backups support recovery and audits.

Disaster recovery and restoration procedures specify how to restore systems and data to meet defined recovery objectives (RPO and RTO). They describe restoration order, required personnel, communication plans, and procedures for testing backups through regular recovery drills.

Ongoing governance encompasses policy updates, monitoring, alerting, and audits to ensure compliance with regulations and organizational standards. Common best practices include regular test restorations, clear ownership, versioning of backup sets, and avoiding single points of failure.