Framework: The Center for Internet Security (CIS) Top 18 Controls

Safeguard 11.1 directs organizations to establish and maintain a documented data recovery process that defines how, where, and when critical information is backed up. The process must specify scope, recovery priorities, and the security of backup data. It also outlines responsibilities, schedules, and verification procedures. Automated backup solutions ensure that important data is captured regularly—ideally daily—and that copies are protected from tampering, deletion, or ransomware encryption. Backups must be encrypted, versioned, and stored in isolated or offline environments to prevent attackers from corrupting them during an incident. This safeguard emphasizes that backups are not merely storage copies but controlled, auditable artifacts that guarantee recovery integrity. The goal is to make restoration predictable, fast, and verifiable under real-world conditions.

To implement this safeguard effectively, enterprises should adopt a tiered strategy combining onsite, offsite, and cloud-based backups. Data criticality determines frequency and retention periods, with higher-value systems backed up more often and stored in multiple locations. Recovery Time Objectives (RTOs) and Recovery Point Objectives (RPOs) must align with business continuity requirements, ensuring that recovery efforts meet operational expectations. Automated monitoring tools should confirm backup completion, integrity, and encryption status, alerting teams immediately to failures. Documentation must include clear instructions for restoration, along with contact points for technical and leadership escalation. Testing is essential—quarterly recovery drills validate the process and uncover procedural or technical gaps. By institutionalizing these practices, Safeguard 11.1 transforms backups from a passive precaution into an active guarantee of resilience, ensuring that when failures occur, recovery is deliberate, secure, and timely.
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