---
title: Backup and Restore
description: Backup and recovery options (full, incremental, differential), the 3-2-1 strategy, backup frequency and validation that keep data available and intact.
weight: 6
---

Data backup and recovery is one of the main mechanisms for ensuring data availability and integrity. They help protect data from loss in case of failures, accidents or malicious actions.

A unified data backup and recovery policy has been developed, which provides for:

- automatic creation of backups for all types of data and devices according to a specified schedule;
- procedures for restoring data from backups.

## Data backup options

### Full Backup

Creates a full copy of all data.

Requires more time and space, but provides fast recovery.

Example:

```bash
tar -czvf backup_full.tar.gz /path/to/data
```

### Incremental backup

Creates a copy of only the data that has changed since the last backup.

Requires less time and space, but recovery may be slower.

Example:

```bash
rsync -av --compare-dest=/path/to/last_backup /path/to/data /path/to/incremental_backup
```

### Differential Backup

Creates a copy of all data that has changed since the last full backup.

A compromise between full and incremental backups.

Example:

```bash
rsync -av --compare-dest=/path/to/full_backup /path/to/data /path/to/differential_backup
```

## Backup Strategy

A backup strategy has been adopted that provides:

### Rule 3-2-1

- **3 copies of data**: Original data and two backups.
- **2 media types**: Hard disk and cloud storage, for example.
- **1 off-site copy**: For example, in the cloud or on a remote server.

### Backup Frequency

- Define backup frequency based on data criticality (e.g. daily, weekly).

### Backup Validation

- Regularly check backups for integrity and recoverability.
- Backup validation is organized in automatic mode according to a certain schedule.
- Automatic distribution of backup status to responsible persons.