Disaster Recovery Planning in AWS
Introduction
Disaster Recovery (DR) Planning is a critical aspect of maintaining business continuity in the event of a disaster. In AWS, DR strategies leverage cloud capabilities to ensure data availability and system recovery.
Key Concepts
Definitions
- Disaster Recovery (DR): A set of processes to restore IT systems post-disaster.
- RTO (Recovery Time Objective): The maximum acceptable time to restore systems.
- RPO (Recovery Point Objective): The maximum acceptable amount of data loss measured in time.
Planning Process
Step-by-Step Guide
- Identify critical business processes and systems.
- Determine RTO and RPO for each system.
- Choose a DR strategy (Backup and Restore, Pilot Light, Warm Standby, Multi-Site).
- Implement AWS services (e.g., AWS Backup, Amazon S3, AWS Elastic Disaster Recovery).
- Test your DR plan regularly to ensure effectiveness.
Example: Setting Up a Backup Plan
aws backup create-backup-plan --backup-plan '{"BackupPlanName": "MyBackupPlan", "Rules": [{"RuleName": "DailyBackup", "TargetBackupVaultName": "MyBackupVault", "ScheduleExpression": "cron(0 12 * * ? *)", "Lifecycle": {"DeleteAfterDays": 30}}]}'
Best Practices
Note: Always have at least one backup located in a different geographical region.
- Regularly test your disaster recovery plan.
- Use multiple regions for critical applications.
- Automate backups and recovery processes.
- Monitor and audit your disaster recovery processes.
FAQ
What is the difference between RTO and RPO?
RTO refers to the maximum time allowed for restoring systems post-disaster, while RPO indicates the maximum time frame of acceptable data loss.
How often should I test my disaster recovery plan?
It is recommended to test your disaster recovery plan at least once a year or after significant infrastructure changes.
What AWS services can be used for disaster recovery?
Commonly used services include AWS Backup, Amazon S3, and AWS Elastic Disaster Recovery.