Question 1

How often should we back up?

Accepted Answer

It depends on criticality: daily for most SMEs, more often for fast-changing data.

Question 2

Is the cloud enough?

Accepted Answer

Rarely on its own. The 3-2-1 rule combines local and remote copies for real resilience.

Question 3

Do you test restores?

Accepted Answer

Yes — an untested backup is not a backup. Tests are scheduled.

Question 4

How long does a restore take?

Accepted Answer

From a few minutes to a few hours depending on volume — the RTO is agreed with you.

Question 5

Where are our backups stored?

Accepted Answer

On site, in the cloud or at a second site — outside the production perimeter, following 3-2-1.

Data backup and disaster recovery: the 3-2-1 rule, tested restores