Back up your systems securely
System Rescue
Creating backups is one thing, making sure they’re secure is another. We offer some tips for ensuring the process is as painless as possible.
Making backups of your data is critical. If you don’t regularly create usable backups, any outages, disk failures, or administrative errors can cause permanent data loss. But, although backups address the availability (and to some degree integrity) aspects of the AIC security triad (availability, integrity, confidentiality), they can introduce significant risks with respect to the confidentiality or secrecy of your data. In other words, when you centralize all your data on removable storage (e.g., tape drives), things can get very bad very quickly if the tapes are misplaced or stolen.
Encrypted Backups
The solution, of course, is to encrypt your backups. Depending on the risk you’re willing to accept, strong encryption can even let you store your files in potentially insecure locations (e.g., a public cloud storage provider). In general, most backup programs support 256-bit AES, which is extremely strong, so with properly generated keys that are secured from attackers, your data should be safe from decryption for at least a few decades. However, you must consider several other issues when deciding how to apply encryption to your backups and how to manage your encryption keys.
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you've found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Linux Kernel Reducing Long-Term Support
LTS support for the Linux kernel is about to undergo some serious changes that will have a considerable impact on the future.
-
Fedora 39 Beta is Now Available for Testing
For fans and users of Fedora Linux, the first beta of release 39 is now available, which is a minor upgrade but does include GNOME 45.
-
Fedora Linux 40 to Drop X11 for KDE Plasma
When Fedora 40 arrives in 2024, there will be a few big changes coming, especially for the KDE Plasma option.
-
Real-Time Ubuntu Available in AWS Marketplace
Anyone looking for a Linux distribution for real-time processing could do a whole lot worse than Real-Time Ubuntu.
-
KSMBD Finally Reaches a Stable State
For those who've been looking forward to the first release of KSMBD, after two years it's no longer considered experimental.
-
Nitrux 3.0.0 Has Been Released
The latest version of Nitrux brings plenty of innovation and fresh apps to the table.
-
Linux From Scratch 12.0 Now Available
If you're looking to roll your own Linux distribution, the latest version of Linux From Scratch is now available with plenty of updates.
-
Linux Kernel 6.5 Has Been Released
The newest Linux kernel, version 6.5, now includes initial support for two very exciting features.
-
UbuntuDDE 23.04 Now Available
A new version of the UbuntuDDE remix has finally arrived with all the updates from the Deepin desktop and everything that comes with the Ubuntu 23.04 base.
-
Star Labs Reveals a New Surface-Like Linux Tablet
If you've ever wanted a tablet that rivals the MS Surface, you're in luck as Star Labs has created such a device.