Backups
Server backup Canada: how to plan an off-server copy
A server backup should survive the server it protects. Keeping an independent copy on Canadian infrastructure can support location requirements, but recovery quality still depends on what is copied, how consistently it is captured, and whether the data can be restored somewhere else.
Start with recovery objectives
Identify which applications matter, how much data loss is tolerable, and how long a rebuild can take. Those answers determine backup frequency, retention, transfer method, automation, and whether image-level copies alone are enough.
Make changing data application-consistent
Databases and other stateful services can be inconsistent if files are copied while writes continue. Use database-aware dumps, snapshots with the appropriate application coordination, or another method that produces a known recoverable state.
Separate backup credentials and storage from production
Use a dedicated destination identity with the smallest required permissions. Protect deletion and administration paths so compromise of the production server does not automatically grant unlimited control over every historical backup.
Test rebuilding onto a different machine
A good restore exercise proves more than file download. Recreate the operating environment, recover configuration and secrets through the approved process, restore application data, and verify the service from a clean destination.