Which two Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are essential for system recovery after a failure?

The selection of RPO (Recovery Point Objective) and RTO (Recovery Time Objective) as the essential Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for system recovery after a failure is well-founded.

RPO refers to the maximum age of the data that can be lost when a failure occurs. It essentially determines how often data backups should be made to minimize data loss. If, for instance, an organization sets an RPO of four hours, it means that in the event of a failure, only the data generated in the last four hours could potentially be lost. This KPI is critical for ensuring that data integrity and continuity are maintained after a recovery process.

RTO, on the other hand, signifies the maximum acceptable downtime after a failure. It addresses how quickly systems must be restored and made operational again in order to minimize disruption to business operations. For example, if an RTO of two hours is set, it means that the system should be fully functional within that timeframe post-failure. This KPI is crucial for determining the resources and strategies needed to facilitate a timely recovery.

Together, RPO and RTO provide a comprehensive framework for organizations to gauge their disaster recovery capabilities, helping ensure that both data loss and downtime are controlled to acceptable levels following a system