--- title: Strong Backup Practices Are as Easy as Counting to Three | Ashton description: Learn the importance of data backup for your business with the 3-2-1 rule to ensure redundancy and protection from data loss. Discover reliable solutions. --- [![Ashton Solutions](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/hs-fs/hubfs/c743380ebbe7d684f1311cdda436439824adad7e.png?width=200&height=81&name=c743380ebbe7d684f1311cdda436439824adad7e.png "Ashton Solutions")](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com) [![Ashton Solutions](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Ashton_March2026/images/Ashton%20Solutions%20logo_color.png?width=200&height=81&name=Ashton%20Solutions%20logo_color.png "Ashton Solutions")](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com) - [Services](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/services) - [Managed IT](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/services/managed-it) - [Co-Managed IT](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/services/co-managed-it) - [Security](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/services/security) - [Compliance](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/services/compliance) - [AI Solutions](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/services/ai-solutions) - [Transaction Advisory](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/services/transaction-advisory) - [Networking](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/services/networking) - [IT Projects](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/services/it-projects) - [Who We Support](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/who-we-support) - [Non-profit Organizations](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/who-we-support/non-profits) - [Financial Services](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/who-we-support/financial-services) - [Legal Services](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/who-we-support/legal-services) - [Professional Services](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/who-we-support/professional-services) - [Industrial & Manufacturing](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/who-we-support/industrial-manufacturing) - [Life Sciences](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/who-we-support/life-sciences) - [Architecture, Engineering & Construction](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/who-we-support/architecture-engineering-construction) - [Real Estate & Development](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/who-we-support/real-estate-property-development) - [Other](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/who-we-support/other-industries) - [About](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/about) - [Meet the Team](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/about#meet-the-team) - [Our Approach](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/about/our-approach) - [Our Story](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/about#our-story) - [Services](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/services) - [Managed IT](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/services/managed-it) - [Co-Managed IT](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/services/co-managed-it) - [Security](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/services/security) - [Compliance](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/services/compliance) - [IT Projects](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/services/it-projects) - [Transaction Advisory](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/services/transaction-advisory) - [Networking](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/services/networking) - [AI Solutions](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/services/ai-solutions) - [Who we help](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/who-we-support) - [Non-profit Organizations](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/who-we-support/non-profits) - [Financial Services](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/who-we-support/financial-services) - [Legal Services](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/who-we-support/legal-services) - [Professional Services](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/who-we-support/professional-services) - [Industrial & Manufacturing](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/who-we-support/industrial-manufacturing) - [Architecture, Engineering & Construction](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/who-we-support/architecture-engineering-construction) - [Real Estate & Development](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/who-we-support/real-estate-property-development) - [Life Sciences](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/who-we-support/life-sciences) - [Other](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/who-we-support/other-industries) - [About](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/about) - [Meet the Team](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/about#meet-the-team) - [Our Approach](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/about/our-approach) - [Our Story](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/about#our-story) [Client Help Desk ![download-1](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/hubfs/download-1.png)](https://portal.ashtonhelps.com) [Talk to an Expert ![download-1](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/hubfs/download-1.png)](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/contact) [Client Help Desk](https://portal.ashtonhelps.com) [Talk to an Expert](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/contact) [Ashton Solutions](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/the-ashton-solutions-blog/author/ashton-solutions) | 05.03.2021 | 1 Min Read # Strong Backup Practices Are as Easy as Counting to Three Strong Backup Practices Are as Easy as Counting to Three Individuals are increasingly understanding the value of their data, and that is a good thing. Unfortunately, a lot of small and medium-sized businesses are operating today without any type of data backup protecting their business’ data, and that, of course, is bad. It is important that if you don’t have a dedicated data backup and recovery strategy in place, that you work to fix that immediately. Today we’ll tell you why. **Keeping Redundant** In life, you (usually) don’t want to be redundant. But when it comes to your business’ data, you absolutely do. The reason is that there are numerous (countless even) ways where your business, if it loses its data (or even control of it) would be in great peril. Redundancy means that you have your systems backed up and ready to restore should something terrible happen. **The 3-2-1 Rule Spells R-e-d-u-n-d-a-n-c-y** One of the best ways that you can ensure that your business has built a proper level of redundancy is by subscribing to the 3-2-1 rule. This is a guideline that every business should adhere to. Essentially it means keeping (at least) three copies of your data. Two are stored onsite and one is stored offsite. Our clients have their working copy, which is the data they use everyday; then they have an onsite backup, which is stored in a specially-designed Network Attached Storage (NAS) device called a BDR; and finally, they have their offsite storage, which is uploaded to offsite storage in the cloud. The redundancy built effectively ensures that whatever happens to your business, you will have a way to restore your data. The BDR also allows for incremental backups, which means that as you work, the changes are backed up to the BDR periodically (every hour and as often as every 15 minutes). Doing so provides you with a copy of your data that is up to date and ready to restore regardless of the circumstances that require you to restore your data from your backup platforms. Protecting your data is as simple as finding the right solution and it doesn’t get much better or more simple than our BDR service. You can learn more about Ashton Technology Solutions’ backup and disaster recovery solutions, or give us a call at 216 397-4080.   By [Ashton Solutions](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/the-ashton-solutions-blog/author/ashton-solutions) May 3, 2021 [Business Technology](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/the-ashton-solutions-blog/tag/business-technology) --- ### You Might Also Be Interested In: ![MSP 501 2026 Winner Logo\_White](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/hs-fs/hubfs/MSP%20501%202026%20Winner%20Logo_White.png?width=1122&name=MSP%20501%202026%20Winner%20Logo_White.png "MSP 501 2026 Winner Logo_White") ![EOS](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Ashton_March2026/images/EOS.png?width=104&name=EOS.png "EOS") ![Wealthead100](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Ashton_March2026/images/Wealthead100.png?width=163&name=Wealthead100.png "Wealthead100") ![CRN26-MSP500-Horizontal-White](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CRN26-MSP500-Horizontal-White.png?width=1742&name=CRN26-MSP500-Horizontal-White.png "CRN26-MSP500-Horizontal-White") - [Services](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/services) - - [Managed IT](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/services/managed-it) - [Co-Managed IT](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/services/co-managed-it) - [Security](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/services/security) - [Compliance](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/services/compliance) - - [AI Solutions](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/services/ai-solutions) - [Transaction Advisory](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/services/transaction-advisory) - [Networking](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/services/networking) - [IT Projects](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/services/it-projects) - [Who We Support](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/who-we-support) - - [Non-profit Organizations](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/who-we-support/non-profits) - [Financial Services](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/who-we-support/financial-services) - [Legal Services](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/who-we-support/legal-services) - [Professional Services](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/who-we-support/professional-services) - [Industrial & Manufacturing](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/who-we-support/industrial-manufacturing) - - [Life Sciences](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/who-we-support/life-sciences) - [Architecture, Engineering & Construction](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/who-we-support/architecture-engineering-construction) - [Real Estate & Development](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/who-we-support/real-estate-property-development) - [Other](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/who-we-support/other-industries) - [About](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/about) - [Meet the Team](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/about#meet-the-team) - [Our Approach](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/about/our-approach) - [Our Story](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/about#our-story) - [Partners](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/about#partnerships) - Resources - [Blog](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/the-ashton-solutions-blog) - [Abbott's Thoughts](https://ashtonthoughts.com/) 23625 Commerce Park, Suite 130 Beachwood, Ohio 44122 Contact Us: [216-397-4080](tel:216-397-4080) - © 2026 Ashton Solutions | All Rights Reserved - [Terms of Use](https://50314096.hs-sites.com/terms) - [Security Policy](https://50314096.hs-sites.com/security-policy) - [DCMA Policy](https://50314096.hs-sites.com/dcma-policy) - [Privacy Policy](https://50314096.hs-sites.com/privacy-policy) [![Linkedin](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Ashton_March2026/images/linkedin-icon.png?width=28&name=linkedin-icon.png "Linkedin")](https://www.linkedin.com/company/ashton-solutions) [![Instagram](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Ashton_March2026/images/instagram-icon.png?width=28&name=instagram-icon.png "Instagram")](https://www.instagram.com/ashtonsolutions) [![Twitter](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Ashton_March2026/images/twitter-icon.png?width=24&name=twitter-icon.png "Twitter")](https://twitter.com/AshtonSolutions) [![youtube](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Ashton_March2026/images/youtube%201.png?width=32&name=youtube%201.png "youtube")](https://www.youtube.com/user/AshtonGroup/featured) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Ashton Solutions", "url" : "https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/the-ashton-solutions-blog/author/ashton-solutions" }, "dateModified" : "2026-07-14T01:15:01.346Z", "datePublished" : "2021-05-03T14:46:43.000Z", "headline" : "Strong Backup Practices Are as Easy as Counting to Three | Ashton", "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/the-ashton-solutions-blog/2021/05/03/strong-backup-practices-are-as-easy-as-counting-to-three", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/hubfs/Ashton%20Solutions%20logo_color.png" } } } ```