Secure Backup and Disaster Recovery
Your Last Line of Defense
No cybersecurity strategy is complete without strong backups and a clear disaster recovery plan. Even with the best defenses, accidents, cyberattacks, or natural disasters can strike. Recovery depends on what you have in place before something goes wrong.
Learn how backups and disaster recovery protect your data, your business, and your future.
What is a secure backup, and why do I need one?
A secure backup is an encrypted, verified copy of your critical data stored separately from your main systems. It protects you from:
Ransomware attacks
Hardware failures
Accidental deletion
Natural disasters (fire, flood, theft)
Without reliable backups, lost data often means lost business.
How often should I back up my data to stay safe?
- Individuals: Daily or weekly, depending on importance.
- Businesses: Critical systems should back up daily or even hourly.
- Frequent backups minimize data loss if an incident occurs.
- Backup frequency should match how much work you can afford to lose.
What is the 3-2-1 backup rule and how does it work?
The 3-2-1 rule is a gold standard for backup strategy:
- 3 copies of your data (1 primary + 2 backups)
- 2 different types of storage (e.g., local drive + cloud)
- 1 copy stored off-site (physically separate location)
- Following this rule dramatically improves your chances of recovery after a disaster.
Should I use cloud backups, external drives, or both?
Ideally, both:
- Cloud Backups: Accessible from anywhere, good against physical disasters.
- External Drives: Fast local recovery, no internet required.
- Diversifying your backup locations reduces risk.
How can I make sure my backups are protected from hackers or ransomware?
- Use encrypted backup solutions.
- Store backups off-site and offline ("air-gapped") when possible.
- Require strong passwords and multifactor authentication for access.
- Regularly audit and test backup integrity.
- Never leave external backup drives permanently connected to your network.
- Securing your backups is just as critical as securing your main systems.
What is disaster recovery in IT, and how does it relate to backups?
Disaster recovery (DR) is the plan and processes for restoring systems and data after an unexpected event. Backups are a key piece of disaster recovery but only part of the plan.
A complete DR plan includes:
- Emergency contacts
- Step-by-step recovery instructions
- Critical system prioritization
- Regular testing and drills
- Bellator Cyber assists businesses in building effective, tailored disaster recovery strategies.
How can I test or verify that my backups are working properly?
- Perform regular restore tests to verify files open and are complete.
- Validate that backup jobs finish successfully without errors.
- Check that backups include all critical data, not just partial copies.
- Ensure off-site copies are available and accessible.
- Backup success without testing is a dangerous false sense of security.
Are online backup services secure and encrypted?
Leading online backup services use strong encryption (AES-256) during both:
- Data transmission (while uploading)
- Data storage (while stored on servers)
However, not all providers are equal. Always choose services that:
- Offer end-to-end encryption
- Allow you to control the encryption keys
- Have a strong privacy policy
- Bellator Cyber ensures your backup solutions meet strict security standards.
How Bellator Cyber Helps Protect You
Bellator Cyber delivers comprehensive backup strategies, disaster recovery planning, and secure, monitored backup solutions tailored to modern threats, minimizing downtime and loss in a crisis.
