3-2-1 Backup Rule Planner

The 3-2-1 rule is the simplest reliable backup strategy there is: 3 copies of your data, on 2 different kinds of media, with 1 copy off-site. Use the checklist below to see which legs you already have and which you're missing.

Copy 1 — your live data The working files on your PC. This one you already have — but on its own it's zero backups. Copy 2 — a local backup on different media An external/USB drive, a NAS, or a network share. Fast to restore from; this is your “2 media” leg. Copy 3 — an off-site backup A cloud drive (Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive), an FTP/SFTP server, or a remote NAS. Survives fire, theft, and flood. This is the leg most people skip. Encrypted & automated Each backup is AES-256 encrypted and runs on a schedule — not a manual copy you'll forget.

Why 3-2-1 works

Each leg covers a different failure. A second copy survives a deleted file or a dying disk. A second type of media (not two folders on the same drive) survives a single hardware failure. An off-site copy survives the disaster that takes out your whole location — the one a NAS in the same room can't help with. Encryption makes sure a lost drive or compromised cloud account doesn't turn a backup into a breach.

Doing 3-2-1 with BackupKit

BackupKit runs every leg from one app: create one job to a local drive or NAS for fast recovery, and a second job to a cloud or remote server for the off-site copy — each with its own schedule and retention. Both encrypted with your key before they leave the machine. Browse the destination guides to set up each one.

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