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A reliable business backup plan starts by deciding what must be restored, then keeping protected copies in separate places and proving that they work. For a small or medium-sized business, the practical sequence is: prioritize systems and data, create multiple copies, isolate and secure them, and rehearse recovery.
1. Decide what the business must recover
Start with an inventory of important data, devices, services, and the dependencies that make them work. A file backup may not be enough if restoring operations also requires applications, configurations, licenses, or full system images. CISA recommends taking stock of assets and prioritizing critical services and dependencies in its #StopRansomware Guide.
Set recovery priorities and acceptable data loss
Identify which systems affect revenue or essential work, and decide how much recent data the business can afford to lose. That tolerance helps determine backup frequency: a system with little tolerance for lost work needs more frequent copies than one where older data can be reconstructed. Use the same priorities to establish the order in which systems should be restored.
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2. Keep multiple copies in different places
The 3-2-1 rule is a useful starting point: keep three copies of important data, counting the production copy and two backups; use two different media types; and keep one copy off-site. CISA explains the approach in its Data Backup Options paper. A joint ransomware advisory hosted by CISA relays the Australian Cyber Security Centre’s formulation of the rule, including disk and tape as examples of different media types (LockBit advisory).
#1 Best Overall
- Slim durable design to help take your important files with you
- Vast capacities up to 6TB[1] to store your photos, videos, music, important documents and more
- Back up smarter with included device management software[2] with defense against ransomware
- Help secure your important files with password protection and hardware encryption
- 3-year limited warranty
Choose copies that match the business’s recovery needs
A small business might combine an automated local backup with a removable external hard drive and a separate off-site or cloud copy. This is one possible arrangement, not a universal prescription: account for the systems being backed up, available bandwidth, how quickly recovery is needed, and whether staff can restore the data. CISA recognizes cloud backup and cloud-to-cloud copies as options in its #StopRansomware Guide.
A disconnected external drive can provide a local copy that is not continuously exposed to network access. Disconnect it when a backup is not actively running. A drive by itself, however, does not provide the separate media and off-site copies needed for a full 3-2-1 approach.
Rank #2
- High-capacity external hard drive with up to 2TB of storage The ModusTech Facet portable external hard drive gives you dependable HDD storage in a slim 2.5-inch design. Multiple capacities available up to 2TB — back up photos, videos, music, documents, and game libraries with room to grow. A trusted external storage solution for everyday backup, media archives, and creative work.
- USB-C and USB 3.1 connectivity with included 2-in-1 cable The Facet ships with a USB-C to USB-C cable and tethered USB-A adapter, so this external hard drive connects to modern laptops, USB-C iPhones, tablets, and older USB-A computers without buying an extra cable. USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5Gbps) interface delivers real-world transfer speeds up to 100MB/s — fast enough to back up 50GB of files in about 8 minutes.
- Plug-and-play external hard drive for PC, Mac, and laptops Preformatted in exFAT and ready to use the moment you plug it in. The Facet works out of the box with Windows PCs, macOS Macs, MacBooks, Chromebooks, and laptops — no drivers, no software, no setup required. A true plug-and-play external hard drive built for everyday use across every major operating system.
- External hard drive for PS4, Xbox One, and Smart TV gaming The Facet is compatible with PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Smart TVs with USB support. PS4 and Xbox One games run directly from the drive — plug it in, format through the console, and add to your storage. Also works with Smart TVs that support USB recording or external media playback.
- Slim, shock-resistant portable external hard drive — 160g At 2.5 inches and just 160g, this portable external hard drive is bus-powered through a single USB-C cable — no separate power adapter, no extra cables. Slim enough for a laptop bag, jacket pocket, or camera bag, with a shockresistant casing and faceted diamond-texture top panel that resists fingerprints and everyday wear. Backed by a 1-year limited warranty from ModusTech, a consumer electronics brand specializing in external storage.
3. Protect backup copies from attack and loss
Encrypt backup data and keep at least one copy offline or otherwise isolated from routine access. If ransomware or a compromised administrator account can reach every copy, attackers may be able to damage backups along with production data. CISA recommends offline, encrypted backups and regular testing of their availability and integrity in its #StopRansomware Guide.
Check cloud protections instead of assuming they are enabled
Cloud storage may offer immutability or object-lock features that help prevent changes or deletion during a defined retention period. Confirm how those protections are configured, who can alter or delete data, how long copies are retained, and what the storage and restore costs are. CISA cautions that immutable storage may not meet some compliance criteria and that misconfiguration can create significant costs. Establish which safeguards the provider supplies and which remain the business’s responsibility, as described in the CISA guide.
Rank #3
- Massive capacity, up to 18TB capacity (1 1TB = one trillion bytes. Actual user capacity may be less depending on operating environment.).Specific uses: Business, personal
- Includes software for device management and backup with password protection (Download and installation required. Terms and conditions apply. User account registration may be required.)
- 256-bit AES hardware encryption
- SuperSpeed USB (5 Gbps); USB 2.0 compatible
4. Test restoration and keep a recovery plan current
A successful backup job only shows that a job ran; it does not prove that the data is intact or that the business can resume work. Test that copies are available, verify their integrity, and restore priority systems as part of a disaster-recovery scenario. CISA’s #StopRansomware Guide advises prioritizing critical systems and avoiding reinfection during recovery.
Make recovery a repeatable procedure
- Practice restoring priority systems in a clean environment.
- Document who is responsible for each recovery task and the order of restoration.
- Update the procedure when systems, dependencies, or business priorities change.
How to choose a backup approach
Compare options against the business’s recovery requirements rather than choosing on storage capacity alone. The relevant trade-offs include:
Rank #4
- USB-C and USB 3.1 compatible.Specific uses: Business, personal
- Innovative style with refined metal cover
- Password protection with 256-bit AES hardware encryption
- Formatted for Mac
- Recovery time and complexity: how long it takes to retrieve copies and restore usable systems.
- Backup frequency: whether the schedule limits data loss to an acceptable window.
- Isolation: whether ransomware or a compromised administrator could reach or delete every copy.
- Separation: whether copies use different media and include an off-site location.
- Safeguards and retention: how encryption, access controls, deletion protection, and retention periods are configured.
- Total cost: include storage growth and fees or delays associated with restoring data, not only the cost of keeping a copy.
CISA’s guidance offers options and security considerations, but it does not determine the right schedule for a particular business or provide jurisdiction-specific compliance advice. Set those details against the organization’s systems, recovery needs, and applicable obligations.
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Best Value
- Massive capacity, up to 18TB capacity (1 1TB = one trillion bytes. Actual user capacity may be less depending on operating environment.).Specific uses: Business, personal
- Includes software for device management and backup with password protection (Download and installation required. Terms and conditions apply. User account registration may be required.)
- 256-bit AES hardware encryption
- SuperSpeed USB (5 Gbps); USB 2.0 compatible
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