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◂ Hosting, Infrastructure, and Systems guidelines

4.8 Back up critical data at routine intervals

Hosting, Infrastructure, and Systems

Back up data at regular intervals to ensure that there are failsafes that can be relied upon should an issue occur.

Criteria

  • Data backups: Human-testable
    Ensure backups of system and user data are secure and incremental to minimize storage use, reduce backup time, and protect against data loss or breaches.
    • The 3-2-1 Backup Strategy
    • AWS WAF – SUS04-BP03 – Use policies to manage the lifecycle of your datasets
    • AWS WAF – SUS04-BP05 – Remove unneeded or redundant data
    • AWS WAF – SUS04-BP08 – Back up data only when difficult to recreate
    • GPF – General Policy Framework (PDF) – 1.6 – Strategy (Data Collection)
    • GPF – General Policy Framework (PDF) – 7.2 – Back-End (Data Retention)
    • GPF – General Policy Framework (PDF) – 8.8 – Hosting (Hot / Cold Data)
    • GPF – General Policy Framework (PDF) – 8.9 – Hosting (Duplicate Data)
    • GR491 – 1-7005 – Data Backups
    • GR491 – 3-8032 – Incremental Backups
    • How To Back Up a WordPress Site
    • The road to carbon neutrality is paved with efficient backups
    • The Role of Data Backup in ESG and Sustainability

Benefits

  • Economic
    Using efficient backup processes that are automated and include only incremental changes to critical data results in less storage being used, reducing costs.
  • Environment
    Designing backups as efficiently as possible minimizes power consumption and carbon emissions by eliminating excess processes and storage.
  • Performance
    Ensuring the availability of critical data allows continuation or speedier resumption of service when problems occur, such as data loss or outages.
  • Security
    Keeping efficient, stable, and well-protected backups is good practice, meaning work, data, and business value are not irreparably lost during a data breach.

GRI

  • Materials: Low
  • Energy: Low
  • Water: Low
  • Emissions: Low

View the Guideline

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