Schrodinger’s Backup: Is Your Backup Really a Backup?

In this session, we discussed the critical need for comprehensive backups across all aspects of our industry—from code and databases to webservers, file servers, and network configurations. Emphasizing the importance of proactive measures, attendees were urged to ensure their backup systems were tested through restoration processes. The session underscored the risk of discovering backup issues only during crises, highlighting the necessity of verifying backup integrity through restoration tests.

1. Is It Really a Backup If You Don't Know If You Can Restore It?

2. https://www.codefumonkey.com

3. What Is A Backup?
History of Backup Options
Why Do We Care?
What Is A Restore?
Why Do We Care About Those?

4. It's the process of making a copy of something to be
used in case of a failure.

5. https://www.computerhistory.org/storageengine/roman-philosopher-pliny-describes-tally-sticks/

6. https://www.census.gov/history/www/through_the_decades/overview/1890.html

7. https://www.census.gov/history/www/through_the_decades/overview/1890.html

8. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_IBM_magnetic_disk_drives#IBM_350

9. Tape

10. Tape
Hard Disk

11. Tape
Hard Disk
CD-R

12. Tape
Hard Disk
CD-R
Zip Disk

13. Tape
Hard Disk
CD-R
Zip Disk

14. Tape
Hard Disk
CD-R
Zip Disk
OPTICAL

15. Tape
Hard Disk
CD-R
Zip Disk
OPTICAL
https://www.livescience.com/technology/electronics/new-petabit-scale-optical-disc-can-
store-as-much-information-as-15000-dvds

16. Tape
Hard Disk
CD-R
Zip Disk
Optical
SSD

17. Tape
Hard Disk
CD-R
Zip Disk
Optical
SSD
USB

18. Tape
Hard Disk
CD-R
Zip Disk
Optical
SSD
USB

19. Tape
Hard Disk
CD-R
Zip Disk
Optical
SSD
USB
NAS

20. Tape
Hard Disk
CD-R
Zip Disk
Optical
SSD
USB
NAS

21. Tape
Hard Disk
CD-R
Zip Disk
Optical
SSD
USB
NAS
https://www.backblaze.com/blog/nas-raid-levels-explained-choosing-the-right-level-to-protect-your-nas-data/

22. Tape
Hard Disk
CD-R
Zip Disk
Optical
SSD
USB
NAS
CLOUD
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/resources/cloud-computing-dictionary/what-is-the-

23. In 2010, the world surpased 10 bytes of data. 
21
https://cybersecurityventures.com/the-world-will-store-200-zettabytes-of-data-by-2025/

24. In 2010, the world surpased 10 bytes of data. 
21 In 2018, more than 1 exabyte, of new data daily. 
https://cybersecurityventures.com/the-world-will-store-200-zettabytes-of-data-by-2025/

25. In 2010, the world surpased 10 bytes of data. 
21 In 2018, more than 1 exabyte, of new data daily.  In 2020, over 4.8 billion internet users.
https://cybersecurityventures.com/the-world-will-store-200-zettabytes-of-data-by-2025/

26. In 2010, the world surpased 10 bytes of data. 
21 In 2018, more than 1 exabyte, of new data daily.  In 2020, over 4.8 billion internet users. In 2020, over 44 zettabytes of data.
https://cybersecurityventures.com/the-world-will-store-200-zettabytes-of-data-by-2025/

27. In 2010, the world surpased 10 bytes of data. 
21 In 2018, more than 1 exabyte, of new data daily.  In 2020, over 4.8 billion internet users. In 2020, over 44 zettabytes of data. By 2025, over 75 billion IoT Devices.
https://cybersecurityventures.com/the-world-will-store-200-zettabytes-of-data-by-2025/

28. In 2010, the world surpased 10 bytes of data. 
21 In 2018, more than 1 exabyte, of new data daily.  In 2020, over 4.8 billion internet users. In 2020, over 44 zettabytes of data. By 2025, over 75 billion IoT Devices. By 2025, over 463 exabytes of data created each day.
https://cybersecurityventures.com/the-world-will-store-200-zettabytes-of-data-by-2025/

29. In 2010, the world surpased 10 bytes of data. 
21 By 2025, almost 200 zettabytes of data.In 2018, more than 1 exabyte, of new data daily.  In 2020, over 4.8 billion internet users. In 2020, over 44 zettabytes of data. By 2025, over 75 billion IoT Devices. By 2025, over 463 exabytes of data created each day.
https://cybersecurityventures.com/the-world-will-store-200-zettabytes-of-data-by-2025/

31. Disaster recovery is a very broad topic, but is
essentially a plan for how your organization
will deal with a disaster.
Your goal is to keep your business running
and to minimize down-time and loss. 
https://www.ready.gov/business/emergency-plans/recovery-plan

32. RPO
Recovery Point Objective
How Much Data Can You Lose?
RTO
Recovery Time Objective
How Fast Can You Recover?
https://www.rubrik.com/insights/rto-rpo-whats-the-difference

34. Human Error

35. Hardware FailureHuman Error

36. Software FailureHardware Failure Human Error

37. Bad ConfigurationsSoftware Failure Hardware Failure Human Error

38. Cyber IncidentsBad Configurations Software Failure Hardware Failure Human Error
https://www.cobalt.io/blog/cybersecurity-statistics-2024

39. Natural DisasterCyber Incidents Bad Configurations Software Failure Hardware Failure Human Error

40. We should backup anything that we
DON'T WANT TO LOSE!

41. https://www.backblaze.com/blog/the-3-2-1-backup-strategy/

42. Full (all data)
Differential (since last Full)
Incremental / Transactional (since last backup)
https://www.unitrends.com/blog/types-of-backup-full-incremental-differential

43. Full (all data)
Differential (since last Full)
Incremental / Transactional (since last backup)
Snapshot (moment-in-time backup of a system)
https://www.unitrends.com/blog/types-of-backup-full-incremental-differential

44. Full (all data)
Differential (since last Full)
Incremental / Transactional (since last backup)
Mirror (immediate copy of a running system)
Snapshot (moment-in-time backup of a system)
https://www.unitrends.com/blog/types-of-backup-full-incremental-differential

45. Important data should be backed up weekly.
Data that doesn't change often should maybe be
backed up at least monthly.
Transactional data may need to be backed up every
few minutes or sooner.

46. Important data should be backed up weekly.
Data that doesn't change often should maybe be
backed up at least monthly.
Transactional data may need to be backed up every
few minutes or sooner.
It all depends on how much data you can lose
and how fast you need it back.

47. Backups should be stored securely.
If you use encryption, make sure to also backup the
keys used to encrypt your data.
And make sure to also store those keys offsite.

48. How long should you keep your backups?
https://www.intradyn.com/data-retention-policy/

49. How long should you keep your backups?
It's much more difficult to steal data that you've
already deleted.
https://www.intradyn.com/data-retention-policy/

50. I backup all the
time. I keep them
safe. I don't need
to worry.

52. Only 10% of IT Users Perform Daily Backups
About 15% Backup Weekly
Around 33% Backup Monthly
https://dl.acronis.com/u/rc/Acronis-Cyber-Protection-Week-Global-Report-2022.pdf

53. Only 10% of IT Users Perform Daily Backups
About 15% Backup Weekly
Around 33% Backup Monthly
41% Rarely or Never Backup
https://dl.acronis.com/u/rc/Acronis-Cyber-Protection-Week-Global-Report-2022.pdf

54. Only 10% of IT Users Perform Daily Backups
About 15% Backup Weekly
Around 33% Backup Monthly
41% Rarely or Never Backup
Over the past year (in 2022), about 76% of
companies suffered downtime due to data issues.
https://dl.acronis.com/u/rc/Acronis-Cyber-Protection-Week-Global-Report-2022.pdf

55. Only 10% of IT Users Perform Daily Backups
About 15% Backup Weekly
Around 33% Backup Monthly
41% Rarely or Never Backup
72% Of All Users Had to Recover Data
Over the past year (in 2022), about 76% of
companies suffered downtime due to data issues.
https://dl.acronis.com/u/rc/Acronis-Cyber-Protection-Week-Global-Report-2022.pdf

56. Backups Fail 43% Of The Time
Restores Fail 39% Of The Time
Full Recovery Only Happens About 25% Of The Time
https://invenioit.com/continuity/know-statistics-on-data-loss-backup/

57. The entire purpose of a backup is to be able to
return to normal operations as
quickly and thoroughly
as possible.

58. The entire purpose of a backup is to be able to
return to normal operations as
quickly and thoroughly
as possible.
Don't forget about the other side of backups:
restoration.

59. A Restore is moving the Backup copy back into its
original, or new, location to return to normal
operations.

60. A Restore is moving the Backup copy back into its
original, or new, location to return to normal
operations.
Don't forget that Restores fail 39% of the time.

62. Be Familiar With Your Process
https://technologyadvice.com/blog/information-technology/how-to-test-database-backup/

63. Make Sure You Have The ResourcesBe Familiar With Your Process
https://technologyadvice.com/blog/information-technology/how-to-test-database-backup/

64. Do Your Best To Prevent Another OutageMake Sure You Have The Resources Be Familiar With Your Process
https://technologyadvice.com/blog/information-technology/how-to-test-database-backup/

65. Do Your Best To Prevent Another Outage Figure Out How Long It TakesMake Sure You Have The Resources Be Familiar With Your Process
https://technologyadvice.com/blog/information-technology/how-to-test-database-backup/

66. Do Your Best To Prevent Another Outage Verify Your Data Is RestoredFigure Out How Long It Takes Make Sure You Have The Resources Be Familiar With Your Process
https://technologyadvice.com/blog/information-technology/how-to-test-database-backup/

67. Automate What You CanDo Your Best To Prevent Another Outage Verify Your Data Is Restored Figure Out How Long It Takes Make Sure You Have The Resources Be Familiar With Your Process
https://technologyadvice.com/blog/information-technology/how-to-test-database-backup/

68. Documentation Is Your FriendAutomate What You Can Do Your Best To Prevent Another Outage Verify Your Data Is Restored Figure Out How Long It Takes Make Sure You Have The Resources Be Familiar With Your Process
https://technologyadvice.com/blog/information-technology/how-to-test-database-backup/

69. Documentation Is Your Friend Automate What You Can Do Your Best To Prevent Another Outage Verify Your Data Is Restored Figure Out How Long It Takes Make Sure You Have The Resources Be Familiar With Your Process https://technologyadvice.com/blog/information-technology/how-to-test-database-backup/
Practice Makes Perfect

71. Thank You.