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We back up to one USB disk attached to the server, is that enough?

No. A USB disk that's always plugged in isn't 3-2-1 and isn't air-gapped. Ransomware encrypts it too, fire burns it too. For a small SMB this is fixable in a few hours.

Try this first

  1. 1Acknowledge the issue: 1 disk = 1 failure = data loss. Plus the disk lives 3-5 years before it fails, when did you last replace?
  2. 2First fix, free to cheap: rotate 2 or 3 USB disks. Swap weekly, the inactive one goes home or to a different room. That alone gives air-gap for most threats.
  3. 3Second fix: add automatic cloud backup alongside USB. Backblaze B2, Wasabi or Synology C2 on the NAS, so a 3rd copy lives offsite. Tens of euros monthly for SMB volumes.
  4. 4Encrypt USB disks with BitLocker or LUKS. Recovery key in password manager, not on a sticker. A lost unencrypted disk is a notifiable GDPR breach.
  5. 5Test restore quarterly from an offline-held disk. A disk nobody ever touches isn't backup, it's hope.
  6. 6Document rotating disks with serial and purchase date. On failure you know which to replace.

When to bring us in

Above 4 TB or several servers, USB rotation gets impractical. A Synology or HP MicroServer with a cloud tier is more sensible. Ask for a review.

See also

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