The State of System Backups

At Culligan Technology LLC, ensuring the resilience and security of our customers’ data is one of our top priorities. In 2024, we are proud to report that our robust backup infrastructure is safeguarding 947 systems across 113 customers, encompassing a total of 174.6 TB of encrypted data. With an unwavering commitment to best practices, we leverage the 3-2-1 backup strategy to provide reliable, secure, and efficient data protection.

The 3-2-1 Backup Method: A Trusted Industry Standard

The 3-2-1 backup strategy forms the cornerstone of our data protection efforts. This approach ensures that:

• Three copies of data exist: the primary data and two backup copies.
• These copies are stored on two different types of media (e.g., disk and cloud storage).
• At least one copy is stored offsite, ensuring data availability even in catastrophic on-premises failures.

This methodology offers a multi-layered defense against data loss, cyberattacks, and physical disasters, making it a gold standard in data protection.

End-to-End Encryption and Robust Security Controls

Data security is foundational to our operations. At Culligan Technology LLC:

• End-to-end encryption ensures that data is encrypted during transit and remains encrypted at rest.
• Backups are safeguarded with multi-factor authentication (MFA) and strict security controls, preventing unauthorized access.
• Encryption standards are continually updated to align with industry best practices, providing confidence in the protection of sensitive information.

Quarterly Restoration Testing and Weekly Data Integrity Verification

To maintain a state of readiness and ensure reliability, our team conducts:

• Quarterly restoration testing: These rigorous tests confirm that backups can be successfully restored within expected timeframes and with data integrity intact. This process mimics real-world recovery scenarios to guarantee preparedness for any contingency.
• Weekly data integrity verification: Automated and manual checks validate the consistency and reliability of stored backups. Any anomalies are swiftly addressed, ensuring that backups remain pristine and recoverable.

Immutability for Backup Snapshot Protection

Recognizing the growing sophistication of ransomware and other cyber threats, we implement immutability in our backup solutions. Immutable snapshots:

• Cannot be altered or deleted within the designated retention period.
• Provide an additional layer of protection against ransomware, accidental deletion, and malicious insider threats.
• Ensure that even in the event of a breach, clean, unaltered data remains available for recovery.

Backups as a Critical Component of Business Continuity, Cybersecurity, and Disaster Recovery

Backups play an essential role in maintaining operations and protecting our customers’ businesses. Here’s how:

• Business Continuity: Reliable backups ensure that operations can continue with minimal disruption, even in the face of unexpected data loss or system failures.
• Cybersecurity: In the era of rising cyberattacks, backups provide a last line of defense against data loss from ransomware, malware, and insider threats.
• Disaster Recovery: Comprehensive backups allow businesses to recover swiftly from disasters such as fires, floods, and hardware failures, minimizing downtime and financial loss.

The Road Ahead

With our proven methodologies, extensive experience, and state-of-the-art technology, Culligan Technology LLC is committed to setting the benchmark for data protection. In 2024, we are not only safeguarding data but empowering our customers with peace of mind, knowing their critical assets are protected against any eventuality.

For businesses seeking reliable, secure, and forward-thinking backup solutions, Culligan Technology LLC remains a trusted partner in a digital world where data protection is more important than ever.