The cyber threats are increasing in severity and frequency, causing significant damage to organizations worldwide. As a result, data protection has become crucial for every organization’s security program. Traditionally, the best practice was following a 3-2-1 rule—keeping three copies of data on two different media types with one copy offsite. However, this approach is changing due to the rising costs and potential impacts associated with ransomware attacks and other forms of malware.
The new best practice in response to these evolving threats is the 3-2-1-1 rule—keeping three copies of data on two different media types, storing one copy offsite, and storing an additional copy offline. This approach ensures that organizations have a comprehensive strategy for protecting their data against cyber attacks while minimizing costs.
Tape has long been used as an offline storage medium due to its low cost and security benefits. Tapes are not connected to networks or the internet, providing protection from malware and ransomware attacks when kept in a tape library onsite. However, traditional backup methods involved copying data backups to tape for remote offsite storage at third-party vaults.
With evolving cyber threats, organizations are shifting towards using cloud services for their offsite disaster recovery needs and keeping daily backups online in the cloud. This approach reduces costs associated with traditional tape backup methods and minimizes tape handling by storing data as an “offline copy” within on-premises facilities, while still providing robust security through physical media storage.
In conclusion, tape technology is evolving to meet today’s cybersecurity challenges. It offers a cost-effective method for offsite disaster recovery and provides organizations with the ability to maintain an “offline copy” of data using the 3-2-1-1 backup strategy. By leveraging this approach, organizations can protect their valuable data against ransomware attacks while minimizing costs associated with traditional tape backup methods.