Backups are one of those topics that are often postponed “for later” — until the first serious failure occurs. That’s when it turns out the backup either doesn’t exist or cannot be restored.

In this article, we discuss practical backup strategies that actually work in production environments.

What Should Be Backed Up?

Contrary to popular belief, it’s not just about the database. A complete backup strategy includes:

• application data,
• configuration,
• secrets,
• user files,
• infrastructure definitions (IaC).

Backup Frequency (RPO)

Backup frequency should be driven by a simple question:

how much data can we afford to lose without serious consequences?

For some systems, a few hours is acceptable; for others, only a few minutes.

Where Should Backups Be Stored?

• a different availability zone,
• a different region,
• a different cloud provider.

A backup stored on the same server as the application is not a backup.

Restore Testing (RTO)

Regular restore tests are critical. A backup that is never tested is only an assumption, not real protection.

Automation

Backups should be:

• automated,
• monitored,
• versioned.

Summary

An effective backup strategy is a combination of technology, procedures, and discipline. A well-designed backup system significantly reduces the impact of failures and human errors.