Data security and integrity are a critical concern for all organizations, but this is especially true for government agencies that handle sensitive information. As data breaches and cyber attacks have become more common, the federal government has implemented new standards and best practices for data backups to better protect confidential data. In this article, I will provide an in-depth look at the key aspects of the latest government data backup policies and explain what these changes mean for federal agencies.
Background on Government Data Security
Protecting sensitive data has long been a priority for government entities at the federal, state, and local levels. Government agencies maintain records on citizens, handle classified information, collect sensitive research data, and store other confidential information as part of their regular operations. Ensuring this data remains secure and is properly backed up in case of disasters or other incidents is essential.
Over the past decade, threats to government data security have increased dramatically. Hacking attacks have become more advanced and dangerous. According to reports from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), federal agencies experienced over 35,000 cybersecurity incidents in 2018 alone. Meanwhile, the rise in telework during the COVID-19 pandemic expanded the attack surface. These trends led policymakers to re-examine IT security protocols across government.
New NIST Backup Guidelines
In response to escalating cyber risks, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has issued new backup standards and recommendations through its publication NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5 – Security and Privacy Controls for Information Systems and Organizations. These guidelines provide best practices for federal agencies to follow when implementing data backups.
Some of the key recommendations include:
- Performing daily incremental backups and weekly full backups of all sensitive systems and data.
- Encrypting backup data to prevent unauthorized access.
- Storing backup data either offline or on separate infrastructure from the primary data to limit exposure.
- Regularly testing restores of backed up data to verify effectiveness.
- Ensuring sufficient data redundancy through the “3-2-1 rule” – maintaining at least three total copies of data, on two different media types, with one copy stored offsite.
Adhering to these NIST guidelines will make federal data backups substantially stronger and more resilient to a range of threats. The requirements provide layered protection against data loss, unauthorized tampering, and other risks.
Key Elements of the New Data Backup Standards
Let’s explore the most important aspects of the new government backup standards in more detail:
Frequent and Redundant Backups
The NIST guidelines call for daily incremental backups coupled with weekly full backups to ensure that multiple copies of data are maintained. Incremental backups capture any changes or additions to information since the last backup. Full backups comprehensively copy all specified data. By alternating daily and weekly backups, agencies can restore data current within a day while also having complete archives available.
Backups should include the entire disk or dataset, not just select files. Full and incremental backups are complementary and provide redundancy if one backup copy has problems. Overall, these requirements ensure that even if multiple backup attempts fail, current data can still be recovered.
Encrypted Backup Data
Given regular reports of hackers infiltrating government networks, requiring encryption for all backup data is a key recommendation. Encrypting data renders it unreadable without authorized access. It protects copied data from compromise even if an attacker manages to obtain a backup copy.
NIST guidelines say that encryption mechanisms must align with Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 140-2 standards. This specifies using at least 256-bit AES encryption which provides robust protection of sensitive agency data. Properly encrypted backups make data breach impact more contained.
Isolated Backup Infrastructure
Backup data copies should be air-gapped from primary networks or stored offline whenever possible according to NIST standards. This means saving backups to separate systems not accessible from main networks. Tape drives, standalone disks, cloud repositories, and physical media like DVDs are potential options.
Isolating backups limits damage if malicious actors infiltrate networks. If backups were connected to compromised systems, attackers could tamper with or erase those copies as well. Keeping online and offline backups protects availability even during network outages or other incidents.
Restoration Testing
Another key recommendation is periodically testing that you can successfully restore data from backups. NIST guidelines say this testing should be performed every 6 months. Testing restorations helps verify backups contain the correct data and are working properly.
If an agency only realizes that their backup process had flaws after an incident, this hampers response. Restoration testing surfaces any technical issues to address proactively. It also identifies knowledge gaps around backup protocols among IT staff.
3-2-1 Backup Rule
For optimal resilience, NIST calls for agencies to follow the established “3-2-1 rule” for backups. This best practice states that data should be replicated in:
- 3 total copies – Having at least three backup copies protects against failure of an individual copy.
- 2 different media types – Storing backups on two different media ensures availability if one medium has technical issues. For example, saved locally on spinning disk and tape drive.
- 1 copy stored offsite – Maintaining a remote offsite backup copy facilitates recovery if onsite copies are impacted by a disaster or cyber attack.
The NIST guidelines don’t strictly require this model but identify it as an ideal control for robust data protection. Following the 3-2-1 rule provides strong insurance against data losses of any cause.
Impacts on Federal Agencies
The new NIST data backup security guidelines have major implications for federal agencies and how they manage IT systems. Let’s discuss some of the likely impacts:
Updated Policies and Procedures
Agencies will need to update internal policies, procedures, and technical protocols to comply with the latest NIST standards. This may involve reconfiguring backup schedules, reassessing supported media types, adjusting encryption mechanisms, and testing restoration readiness. Data backup is a routine but absolutely business-critical activity.
Additional Costs and Resources
There will likely be budget and resourcing impacts to meet the new requirements, especially regarding encryption, redundant backups, and isolated infrastructure. Fulfilling these guidelines will require financial investment and staff time. However, costs are justified given the risks of losing critical data.
Cloud and Offsite Backup Usage
To achieve offline storage and geographic redundancy for backups, agencies may need to expand utilization of cloud repositories and commercial backup services. The scale and importance of government data often necessitates involvement of third-party vendors and offsite facilities to fully satisfy backup standards.
Increased Scrutiny and Auditing
Adherence to NIST backup guidelines is likely to get heightened focus when federal systems and controls are audited and reviewed in the future. Given breaches at agencies like OPM in recent years, assessing maturity of backup protocols will be a priority. Strict NIST standards also give auditors concrete guidelines to validate compliance against.
Key Takeaways
Implementing robust data backups is a crucial responsibility at all levels of government as cyber risks escalate. The latest NIST guidelines provide federal agencies with authoritative standards to follow in keeping sensitive government data protected. Core requirements like frequent redundant backups, encrypted copies, isolated infrastructure, and restoration testing provide layered reliability and security.
While fulfilling these updated data backup standards will require some new investments in technology, staff training, and vendor partnerships, the long-term risk reduction is vital. Citizens rightly expect that their personal data remains secure when entrusted to government bodies. These NIST guidelines give agencies the blueprint to help fulfill that trust through hardened backup protections aligned to today’s elevated threat environment.
