Backups recovery

Automate backup jobs with cron, systemd timers, or cloud schedulers so backups run on a schedule. Use scripts or managed services; alert on failure; verify restores periodically. Use this when moving from manual backups to reliable automated runs.

Define RTO and RPO; choose a DR strategy (backup and restore, pilot light, warm standby, or multi-site). Use backups and runbooks to recover from total loss of a system or site. Use this when planning DR or when explaining options to stakeholders.

Snapshots are point-in-time copies of a volume or disk, often in the same system or cloud; backups are copies stored separately, often with retention and restore verification. Use both for different recovery scenarios. Use this when designing backup strategy or explaining the difference to stakeholders.

A backup is only useful if restore works. Run periodic restore tests: restore to a test environment, verify data and application integrity, and document the process. Use this when setting up a backup schedule or when improving recovery confidence.

When ransomware encrypts or destroys data, isolate affected systems, determine scope, and restore from a backup that is known to be clean and immutable. Do not pay the ransom without legal and executive decision; focus on recovery from backups. Use this when building a ransomware response plan or during an incident.