# Design a backup and recovery plan we can actually restore from

Sets recovery targets per system and builds a backup schedule, ransomware protections, and a restore testing routine.

- Topic: Projects & Operations
- Framework: RTF
- Level: Standard
- Tags: Plan, Fill-in Template
- Source: https://www.thinkwithprompt.com/prompts/design-a-backup-and-recovery-plan-we-can-actually-restore-from

## Prompt

```text
Help me design a backup and recovery plan.

**Systems and data:** [LIST - e.g. "file server 2 TB", "SQL database", "M365 mail and OneDrive", "laptops", "SaaS apps"]
**Business importance of each:** [which ones stop the business if down, and for how long it can tolerate]
**Current backups:** [tools, schedule, where copies are stored - or "none"]
**Budget and storage options:** [cloud, on-site appliance, tape]
**Threats I worry about:** [ransomware, accidental deletion, hardware failure, site loss]

Plan:
1. Set recovery time objective (RTO) and recovery point objective (RPO) for each system based on what I told you; mark assumptions for me to confirm with the business owners.
2. Backup method and frequency per system that meets those targets.
3. 3-2-1 rule (or 3-2-1-1-0): number of copies, media types, offsite, and at least one immutable or offline copy.
4. Ransomware protections: separate credentials for backup admin, MFA, immutability, alerts on deleted or failed jobs.
5. SaaS data: note where the provider's built-in retention is not a true backup.
6. Restore testing: what to test, how often (file-level monthly, full system quarterly), and how to record results.
7. Monitoring: who checks backup job status daily and what to do on failure.

Return: a table (System | RTO | RPO | Method | Frequency | Retention | Copies and location | Test frequency), a restore test log template, and the 5 highest-priority fixes to our current setup.
```

## What to fill in

- tools, schedule, where copies are stored - or "none"
- cloud, on-site appliance, tape
- ransomware, accidental deletion, hardware failure, site loss

Free to copy and use. From ThinkWithPrompt (https://www.thinkwithprompt.com/), a library of 2,663 curated AI prompts.