ISO 27001 emphasises the importance of data protection through adequate backup procedures. A Data Backup Procedure is crucial for ensuring that an organisation can recover data after various types of data loss incidents, such as hardware failures, cyber attacks, or other disruptive events. This article outlines what a Data Backup Procedure is, its key components, and its significance in the context of ISO 27001 compliance.
What is a Data Backup Procedure?
A Data Backup Procedure is a documented process that an organisation follows to ensure that all critical data is duplicated and stored securely to facilitate recovery in case of data loss. This procedure is a fundamental part of an organisation’s risk management and business continuity strategies, directly supporting the achievement of Recovery Time Objectives (RTOs) as outlined in a Material Event Plan.
Key Components of a Data Backup Procedure
A Data Backup Procedure (such as the template provided in the de.iterate platform) typically includes the following elements:
Purpose
To communicate the importance of timely and current backups and outline how these backups support the organisation’s recovery objectives.
Process Flow
Identify: Determining what data needs to be backed up, based on its importance to business operations.
Backup: Executing the backup process using the appropriate methods and technologies.
Retain: Keeping the backups for a specified retention period that complies with organiSational and regulatory requirements.
Remove: Safely and systematically deleting old backups that are beyond the retention period or no longer needed.
Backup Details
Details on the backup platforms, types of backups (such as full or incremental), and the specific retention periods for each type of data or system. For example, an organisation might use AWS S3 with S3 Versioning for a 90-day retention period.
Retention Policy
Explains that backups are not meant to be repositories for individual system settings but are comprehensive snapshots of systems or applications that can be restored to a specific point in time.
Document Control
Includes information about the policy owner, classification, publication, and review dates.
Importance of a Data Backup Procedure in ISO 27001
Risk Mitigation: Effective backup procedures are critical for mitigating risks associated with data loss.
Business Continuity: Ensures that the organisation can quickly recover from an incident without significant disruption to operations, crucial for meeting the ISO 27001 requirements related to business continuity.
Compliance: Helps comply with various regulatory and legal requirements concerning data protection and privacy.
Data Integrity and Availability: Supports the integrity and availability of data, core tenets of information security as outlined by ISO 27001.
Implementing a Data Backup Procedure
To implement an effective Data Backup Procedure in line with ISO 27001, organisations should:
Conduct a Data Inventory: Identify all data that requires protection, classifying it based on its importance and sensitivity.
Define Backup Schedules: Establish how often data needs to be backed up based on the criticality and the organisation’s RTOs.
Select Appropriate Technologies: Choose backup solutions that meet the organisation’s needs for security, reliability, and scalability.
Regular Testing: Regularly test backup processes to ensure they work correctly and that data can be effectively restored.
Training and Awareness: Train relevant staff on their responsibilities related to data backup and ensure they understand the procedures.