The 3-2-1 backup strategy means keeping three copies of important files, using two different types of storage, with at least one copy away from your main location.
Three copies: your working original and two backup copies.
Two storage types: spread the copies across different storage, such as a computer drive, a removable drive and a cloud service.
One offsite copy: keep at least one backup away from the place where you keep the original.
Choose copies you can recover separately
For each backup, ask whether you could still retrieve it if the original device or another copy was lost. Two folders or partitions on the same drive share the same device risk. Viewing the same Store account on a phone and a computer does not create two independent backups.
A sync setup can copy unwanted edits or deletions to other locations. Keep separate dated copies of earlier versions you need, and check how your chosen backup method handles changes.
Example: one folder in three places
Copy | Example location | What to check |
Working original | Computer's internal SSD | You know where the source files are and can open them. |
Backup 1 | Removable hard drive | The copy is current and usable. Disconnect the drive safely after updating it. |
Backup 2 | Store | The upload finished and a separately downloaded copy opens. |
These are separate copies of the same selected folder. Extra folders on one drive or storage managed inside one cloud account do not replace the two backup destinations in this plan.
Offsite and offline protect against different problems
An offsite copy is away from your main location. An offline copy is disconnected from the computer or network when it is not being updated. A cloud copy can be offsite while still being reachable through your account. A backup on network-attached storage (NAS) remains connected while it is reachable over the network.
Plan how you would access the offsite copy if your main device was unavailable. Keep the sign-in and recovery information you need in a secure place you can access separately.
Choose extra protection when needed
If all copies share a device, location or access route, identify the gap before adding more storage. Consider a disconnected copy or a separate recovery route that you can test.
Some services offer retention locks that prevent a saved version from being changed or deleted for a set period. Check who can remove the lock, when it takes effect and how recovery works. A lock can also prevent you from deleting unwanted data and may keep storage charges running. An ordinary upload does not establish this protection.
Record the risk and the supported protection that addresses it.
Keep existing usable copies while checking the change.
Retrieve a file from the protected copy and record the result and any retention conditions.
Write a plan for one small folder
Name the folder, its original location and the two backup destinations.
Record which storage types you use and which copy is offsite.
Choose how often to update each backup based on how much recent work you could afford to lose.
Record how you will retrieve each copy and when you will check it again.
Check an additional copy in Store
Choose one small file whose contents you know. Keep its original outside Hivenet and record where it is saved.
Follow the first-file guide to upload the file. Wait for the upload to finish and check any error.
Download the stored copy into a separate location. Open it and compare its contents with the original.
Record the date, the file checked and whether the copy was usable. Resolve a failed check before relying on that copy.
Set a time to update the copy based on how often the original changes. Keep a separate dated copy for earlier versions you need. Uploading once does not keep every source folder up to date.
This check covers the selected file at that time. Use appropriate operating-system backup and recovery tools for restoring an entire computer, and check their supported destinations separately.
Check the whole plan
Retrieve a file from each backup destination into a separate location and open it. Record the result for each copy. If a copy is missing, out of date or unreadable, fix that gap while keeping the usable originals.
You have completed this exercise when your plan names all three copies, identifies the different storage and offsite location, and records a successful retrieval from each backup. A successful check today does not replace future checks.