10 NIST Backup Best Practices

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) provides guidelines for organizations to follow when it comes to data backup and recovery. These guidelines are designed to help organizations protect their data and ensure that they can recover it in the event of a disaster.

In this article, we will discuss 10 NIST backup best practices that organizations should follow to ensure their data is secure and recoverable. We will also discuss the importance of having a comprehensive backup strategy and how to implement it.

1. Backup data regularly

Regular backups ensure that you have a recent copy of your data in case something happens to the original. This could be anything from accidental deletion or corruption, to malicious attacks like ransomware.

Regular backups also help reduce the amount of time it takes to recover lost data. If you only back up once a month, for example, then any data lost between those backups will take longer to restore than if you had backed up more frequently.

Finally, regular backups can help you identify and address problems quickly. For instance, if you notice that certain files are missing from one backup but present in another, you can investigate why this happened and take steps to prevent it from happening again.

2. Store backups in a secure location

Backups are a critical part of any organization’s disaster recovery plan, and if they’re not stored securely, they can be vulnerable to theft or destruction.

To ensure your backups remain secure, store them in an offsite location that is physically separate from the primary data center. This will help protect against physical threats such as fires, floods, or other natural disasters. Additionally, make sure the backup storage facility has appropriate security measures in place, such as access control systems, surveillance cameras, and alarm systems. Finally, encrypt all backups before storing them to prevent unauthorized access.

3. Test your backup and recovery process

Testing your backup and recovery process helps you identify any potential issues before they become a problem. It also allows you to ensure that the data is being backed up correctly, and that it can be recovered in an efficient manner. Testing should be done regularly, as changes to systems or processes may affect the way backups are performed.

Finally, testing your backup and recovery process will help you gain confidence in your system’s ability to protect your data. This is especially important for organizations with critical data that must remain secure and available at all times.

4. Keep multiple copies of your data

Having multiple copies of your data ensures that you have a backup in case one copy is corrupted or lost. It also allows you to access the same information from different locations, which can be useful if you need to work remotely. Finally, having multiple copies of your data helps protect against malicious attacks, as it makes it more difficult for attackers to delete or modify all copies of your data.

5. Encrypt your backups

Encryption helps protect your data from unauthorized access, even if the backup is stolen or lost. It also ensures that only authorized personnel can view and use the data.

Encrypting backups should be done both in transit (while they are being sent to a remote storage location) and at rest (when stored on a local device). Encryption algorithms such as AES-256 provide strong encryption for data in transit and at rest. Additionally, you should consider using multi-factor authentication when accessing encrypted backups. This will help ensure that only authorized personnel have access to the data.

6. Use an offsite/cloud backup service

Offsite/cloud backups are stored in a secure, remote location that is not connected to your local network. This means that if there is an issue with your local system or network, the data will still be safe and accessible from the cloud. Additionally, offsite/cloud backups can provide additional security measures such as encryption, which helps protect your data from unauthorized access.

Finally, using an offsite/cloud backup service allows you to easily restore data in the event of a disaster. With just a few clicks, you can quickly recover lost or corrupted files without having to worry about manually transferring them from one location to another.

7. Verify the integrity of your backups

Backups are only useful if they can be restored. If the data is corrupted or incomplete, it won’t do you any good. That’s why verifying the integrity of your backups is so important. It ensures that all of the data was backed up correctly and can be used in case of an emergency.

To verify the integrity of your backups, you should regularly test them by restoring a small portion of the data to make sure everything is working properly. You should also use checksums to compare the original files with the backup copies to ensure that no changes have been made. Finally, you should store multiple versions of your backups in different locations to protect against data loss due to hardware failure or natural disasters.

8. Monitor your backups

Monitoring your backups ensures that you know when a backup fails or is incomplete. This allows you to take corrective action quickly and minimize the amount of data lost in the event of an outage or disaster. It also helps you identify any potential issues with your backup system before they become major problems.

You should monitor both the success and failure rates of your backups, as well as their size and duration. You should also check for errors and warnings in the logs associated with your backups. Finally, it’s important to regularly test your backups to make sure they are working properly.

9. Have a plan for restoring your data

Having a plan for restoring your data ensures that you can quickly and easily recover from any type of disaster. It also helps to ensure that the data is restored in an orderly fashion, so that it’s not corrupted or lost during the process. Additionally, having a plan for restoring your data allows you to test the backup system regularly, which helps to identify any potential issues before they become major problems. Finally, having a plan for restoring your data gives you peace of mind knowing that if something does happen, you have a way to get back up and running quickly.

10. Document your backup procedures

Documenting your backup procedures helps ensure that everyone in the organization is aware of what data needs to be backed up, how often it should be done, and who is responsible for performing the backups. This also ensures that if something goes wrong with a backup, you have a record of what happened and can quickly identify any issues or gaps in the process.

Additionally, having documented procedures makes it easier to train new staff members on the backup process and allows them to get up to speed quickly. Finally, documenting your backup procedures will help you stay compliant with industry regulations and standards such as NIST 800-53.