HA - RPO and RTO — TechKnowSurge

About this video

Data backup is a foundational element of IT operations and disaster recovery planning, yet it involves far more complexity than simply making a copy of files. Core decisions begin with classifying data by its criticality and recoverability — databases containing irreplaceable customer transactions demand different treatment than servers that can be rebuilt through automated DevOps pipelines. Recovery point objectives and recovery time objectives define the boundaries of acceptable data loss and system downtime, and those targets directly shape how frequently backups run, what gets backed up, and at what granularity — whether at the machine, volume, folder, or file level. Media selection and storage location are equally important factors. Options range from cloud storage and removable drives to tape and disk, each with trade-offs around cost, accessibility, and security. Storing backups exclusively on-site shortens recovery time but creates risk if a physical disaster strikes the same location, making off-site or hybrid approaches preferable for most environments. Encryption should be applied regardless of where backup data resides, and organizations using tape or removable media should maintain rotation schedules to ensure an off-site copy is always current. Snapshots provide a mechanism for capturing a point-in-time state of data without interrupting active use, and many backup systems use them behind the scenes to avoid copying files mid-write. Restore options include overwriting the original, restoring alongside it, or placing the recovered data in an alternate path — a choice that should always be communicated clearly to end users. Testing backups regularly is critical, as corrupt media or missing components may only surface when a restore is actually attempted. Finally, retention periods, archiving practices, and data disposal procedures must all be addressed in any complete backup policy, particularly when regulatory requirements or customer data deletion requests are involved.

What you'll learn

Identify the key components of a backup strategy, including backup types, storage media, retention periods, and recovery options
Explain backup-related concepts such as snapshots, recovery point objectives, recovery time objectives, and data archiving and disposal considerations

What's covered

Backup Fundamentals

Backup Considerations
- Recreatable vs Non-Recreatable Data
- Recovery Point & Time Objectives
- Criticality & Cost
- Data Change Frequency
What to Back Up
- Databases & Transaction Logs
- Files, Folders & Volumes
- Servers & System State
- Directory Information
Media & Storage
- Media Types
  - Cloud, Tape, Disk
  - Removable Media
- Media Rotation
- Storage Location
  - Onsite vs Offsite
- Encryption
Backup Methods
- Snapshots & Deltas
  - Freeze Original, Track Changes
  - Performance Considerations
- Restore Types
  - Overwrite, Side-by-Side, Alternate Path
- Media Inventory
Backup Management
- Backup Testing
- Retention Period
- Archiving Data
- Disposal of Data

Aligned to

NIST 800-53

CP-9 System Backup

CompTIA A+ Core 2

4.3 Given a scenario, implement workstation backup and recovery methods.

CompTIA Server+

3.7 Given a scenario, implement backup and restore procedures.

3.6 Explain the importance of disaster recovery.

CompTIA Cloud+

3.1 Given a scenario, manage and optimize cloud operations, including automation, scaling, backup, and recovery strategies.

CompTIA Tech+

6.7 Explain business continuity concepts.

Cisco CCST Cybersecurity

4.4 Explain the importance of disaster recovery and business continuity planning

Key terms

Recovery Point Objective: The maximum acceptable amount of data loss measured in time, defining how far back data must be recoverable.
Recovery Time Objective: The maximum acceptable time to restore a system or service after a disruption.
Disaster Recovery: The process and procedures for recovering IT systems and data following a disruptive event.
Encryption: The process of converting readable data into an unreadable format using an algorithm and key to prevent unauthorized access.
Redundancy: The duplication of critical components or systems to increase reliability and availability.
Snapshot: A point-in-time copy of a storage volume or virtual machine state that captures the original data and tracks subsequent changes as a delta, enabling rapid backup and recovery without interrupting running workloads.
Data Archiving: The process of moving data that is no longer actively used to a separate, secure, and lower-cost storage location for long-term retention.
Retention Period: The defined length of time that backup data is kept before it is deleted or disposed of.
Media Rotation: A backup strategy that cycles storage media such as tapes between on-site and off-site locations to ensure an accessible current copy and a geographically separate copy.
Full Backup: A complete copy of all selected data, serving as the baseline backup type from which other backup strategies operate.

Topics

Backup Strategy Rpo Rto Disaster Recovery Data Retention High Availability Business Continuity

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