In the past, the backup strategy of choice was the 3-2-1 rule. Back then, it was hard to manage backups, and creating three copies of files with two different types of media and keeping one copy offsite was the norm. Now, cloud storage has made backups much easier to manage, so it’s become easier to disregard the rule.
Now that we’re in 2026, the 3-2-1 rule should be revised. Why? Well, the rule assumes that we’re still only storing data locally, on our personal computers, and then sending copies of it to cloud storage. But that’s no longer the case. Now we’re storing our data in the cloud and then syncing it to our personal computers. With syncs, our local copy of data is no longer a safety net in case of a cloud failure. That’s not to say that the 3-2-1 rule should be scrapped fully, but rather that it needs to be updated to protect against modern threats.
How so? Well, the first two points of the 3-2-1 rule are still fine. You should keep three copies of your data. The third copy should be stored on two different types of media. And the first two copies should be stored off-site, away from your home or office. Now, to revise the rule to account for syncs, the last point should be revised to: The third copy should be stored on cloud storage, but be sure to keep a copy stored on a physical, isolated device. For a Barracuda Partner, visit www.primesys.co.uk/partnerships/barracuda
Another way to think of it is to keep a cloud copy and then a local copy that is synced to the cloud but not accessible by cloud apps. The main point of the 3-2-1 rule is to have a failsafe against losing data.