RPO / RTO (Recovery Point / Time Objective)
What is RPO / RTO (Recovery Point / Time Objective)?
RPO is how much data you can afford to lose (measured in time). RTO is how fast you need to be back up and running. Together they define your backup strategy.
Why RPO / RTO (Recovery Point / Time Objective) Matters
If your RPO is 24 hours, daily backups suffice. If it's 15 minutes, you need continuous replication. These numbers drive every backup decision — and they're different for every business.
Related Topics
Related Terms
Backup (the 3-2-1 rule)
A copy of your files stored somewhere else, so a dead computer doesn't mean dead data. The 3-2-1 rule: keep 3 copies of your data, on 2 different types of media, with 1 copy stored off-site — so a single fire, flood, or ransomware attack can't destroy everything.
BackupImmutable Backup
Backups that cannot be altered or deleted — even by ransomware or a compromised admin account. Write once, read many, change never.
BackupAir Gap
A backup that is physically disconnected from the network — no cable, no Wi-Fi, no connection. The ultimate protection against ransomware.
Backup