Backups & Disaster Recovery
Data Loss = Liability
Without proper backups and disaster recovery, your agency faces liability for data loss, service interruptions, and failure to meet open records requirements. Insurance won't cover you without documented backup procedures.
The 3-2-1 Backup Strategy
YesGov implements the industry-standard 3-2-1 backup strategy:
- 3 Copies: Three copies of your data (original + 2 backups)
- 2 Different Media: Backups stored on two different types of media
- 1 Off-Site: At least one backup stored off-site
Backup Types
Full Backups
Complete copies of all data, taken regularly to ensure comprehensive recovery.
Incremental Backups
Backups of only changed data since the last backup, for efficiency.
Differential Backups
Backups of all changes since the last full backup.
Backup Storage
- Local Backups: Fast recovery for common issues
- Off-Site Backups: Protection against physical disasters
- Cold Storage: Long-term archival storage for compliance
- Encrypted Storage: All backups encrypted at rest
- Geographic Distribution: Backups stored in multiple locations
Disaster Recovery Planning
Disaster recovery plans are mandatory for government agencies. Without documented plans, your agency faces liability for service interruptions.
Disaster Recovery Requirements
- Documented recovery time objectives (RTO)
- Documented recovery point objectives (RPO)
- Regular disaster recovery testing
- Documented recovery procedures
- Regular backup verification
Backup Testing & Verification
Backups are useless if they don't work. Regular testing is mandatory.
- Regular Restore Tests: Monthly restore testing
- Backup Verification: Automated verification of backup integrity
- Documentation: All tests documented for compliance
- Recovery Drills: Regular disaster recovery drills
- Performance Testing: Testing recovery speed and reliability
Compliance & Legal Requirements
Government agencies must maintain backups for:
- Open Records Laws: Data must be accessible for public records requests
- Retention Requirements: Legal requirements for data retention
- Audit Requirements: Backups must be auditable
- Insurance Requirements: Insurance requires documented backup procedures
Data Protection
- Encryption: All backups encrypted in transit and at rest
- Access Control: Strict access controls for backup systems
- Monitoring: Continuous monitoring of backup systems
- Alerting: Automated alerting for backup failures
- Documentation: Complete documentation of backup procedures
YesGov Handles All Backups
We implement the 3-2-1 strategy, test regularly, and document everything. Your data protection is our responsibility.