When selecting a location for an offsite storage facility for IS backup files, what is the most important criterion?

The most important criterion when selecting a location for an offsite storage facility for information system (IS) backup files is that it is physically separated from the data center and not subject to the same risk. This is crucial because the primary purpose of offsite backups is to ensure data availability and integrity in the event of a disaster that affects the primary data center, such as natural disasters (fires, floods, earthquakes) or man-made incidents (theft, vandalism). Ensuring that the offsite location is geographically distant and independent from the risks facing the primary location mitigates the risk of losing both the primary data and the backups at the same time.

While the other factors, such as providing a high level of protection, outsourcing to a reliable third party, and having surveillance capabilities, are important to consider for the overall security and reliability of the storage facility, they do not address the fundamental need for physical separation from the initial site containing the critical data. Without that separation, the backups would not serve their primary purpose of being a fail-safe in the face of localized threats.