So you've got a solid 3-2-1 setup. That’s great—and more than most.
But maybe you want to go further. Maybe you're dealing with critical data, sensitive records, or just the kind of brain that sleeps better knowing there's a Plan D.
Here are a couple of “next-level” strategies that go beyond 3-2-1:
3-2-1-1: Add immutability
This version (recommended by IDC) keeps the original 3-2-1 structure, but adds one immutable backup—a version that can’t be changed or deleted.
That protects against:
Ransomware
Accidental overwrites
“Oops I thought I didn’t need that anymore”
Immutability is often implemented using WORM (write-once-read-many) storage—available on some tape drives, optical media, Linux file systems, and cloud platforms like AWS. Hivenet doesn’t currently offer this, but it’s on our radar.
4-3-2: The disaster-recovery dream
This one’s used in enterprise environments and is… intense. You’ll need:
4 total copies of your data
3 separate storage locations
2 offsite copies, ideally on different networks and media types
Overkill? Maybe. But for certain industries (and cautious individuals), it’s peace of mind.
Pro tip: Hivenet works great as one of your offsite, geo-dispersed copies.
Bottom line
You don’t have to go this far. But knowing your options helps you design a setup that fits your data—and your comfort level.
Next, we’ll talk about how to keep your setup fresh and flexible as your needs evolve.
Previous:
⬅️ Test your backups (seriously)
Next:
➡️ Schedule regular check-ins