…and why you should know the 3-2-1-1-0 rule
According to the SYNAXON IT Service Price Index 2025, backup is the top-selling managed service solution. But how secure are your customers' backups? In this special newsletter – two weeks before World Backup Day on March 31st – we want to provide you with information, tips, and tricks (including the 3-2-1-1-0 rule) so that you too can profit from this lucrative market.
Source: SYNAXON IT Service Price Index 2025, page 48
How secure are your customers' backups?
Security is a relative term, especially when it comes to data. Many people think that a single backup is enough to be on the safe side. But reality shows that threats like hardware failures, human error, or cyberattacks always pose a risk. Even the best backup is only as good as the strategy behind it. So the question is: How secure do you really want your data to be? The goal should be to consider all possible failure and threat scenarios.
Is a normal backup sufficient?
A simple, irregular backup to a hard drive might suffice in certain cases, but there are numerous scenarios where the risk is significantly higher. What happens if that hard drive fails or is destroyed by fire? Or what if it falls victim to a cyberattack? A standard backup alone is usually insufficient in today's threat landscape. This is where advanced backup strategies like the 3-2-1-1-0 rule come into play.
What does the 3-2-1-1-0 rule state?
The 3-2-1-1-0 rule is a proven concept for ensuring a truly secure backup. The rule states:
- 3 You should have copies of your data – the original and two backups.
- 2 Backups should be stored on different media types, for example on a local hard drive and in the cloud.
- 1 Backups should be stored in an external location to protect them from physical hazards such as fire, water, or theft.
- 1 Backups should be offline, i.e., not constantly connected to the network, to protect them from cyberattacks, especially ransomware.
- 0 Mistake: Backups should be checked regularly to ensure they are intact and recoverable.
Backup for skeptics
1. "I don't need a backup, nothing has ever happened to me."„
Answer: That may be true so far, but just like with insurance, backups are about being prepared for the worst-case scenario. If you lose important data, you can't recover it without a backup. A backup is like a safety net that you hopefully will never need – but if you do, it could save your day or even your life.
2. "I already have a backup, that's enough."„
Answer: A simple backup is good, but imagine if that backup itself gets corrupted or compromised. A single backup poses a high risk. The 3-2-1-1-0 rule offers you multi-layered protection: different storage locations, media types, and an offline backup. This minimizes the risk of all backups being lost simultaneously.
3. "I don't have time to deal with that."„
Answer: A good backup system is set up once and then runs automatically in the background. It hardly takes any time, but saves enormous costs and effort in the event of a problem. Investing in a secure backup means long-term peace of mind and security – less worry and more focus on what matters most.
Backup as the best defense against ransomware
Ransomware attacks are on the rise and aim to encrypt your data in order to extort a ransom. A good backup is your strongest weapon against them. With a current and clean backup, you can restore your data without having to comply with the attackers' demands. An offline backup is particularly effective in protecting you from ransomware encryption, as it is inaccessible to attackers. A secure backup ensures you remain operational and independent, even in the event of an attack.
Is such a strategy even economically viable?
Simple answer: Yes! There are many different options and models for setting up an optimal backup. Not only the technology, but also cost-effectiveness plays a crucial role. Only you can advise your customers; we can handle the routine tasks. Make it easy for yourself – benefit from SYNAXON's experience and standardization and save time: with SYNAXON Managed Backup!
Benefits for you:
- Shared storage pool across all customers with two different storage types
- Pre-configuration with best practices
- Semi-automated setup
- Automated deployment of the backup software and setup in the backup portal.
- Automated notification of errors and reaching the volume limit
- Supervision of the monitoring
- Technical first-level support provided by the SYNAXON Services Team
- Optimal interaction with SYNAXON Managed RMM
Our managed backup is powered by Acronis. We've achieved a great deal together over the past few years and have complete confidence in Acronis and its solution. To give you an example: Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud recently received top marks in the AV-TEST ATP test. an outstanding result excellent.
Did you know that you can also book Acronis Security Awareness Training for your customers with us? Activate by April 30, 2025 and benefit from a monthly discount of 50 % benefit from usage for six months.
Activate Managed Backup and other add-ons in SYNAXON Services Dashboard.
