Disaster Recovery Architect Workflow
Design a disaster recovery architecture with defined RTO and RPO, automated failover, and regular recovery testing.
Objective
Design a disaster recovery plan with defined recovery objectives.
Environment
- Infrastructure across multiple zones or regions
- A defined RTO and RPO for the application
- Disaster recovery testing capability
Steps
1. Define RTO and RPO
Document the maximum acceptable downtime and data loss for the application.
Expected state: RTO and RPO targets are defined and approved.
2. Design architecture
Create an architecture that meets the RTO and RPO using replication and automation.
Expected state: A DR architecture is designed to meet the recovery objectives.
3. Automate failover
Build automation to detect failures and switch to the recovery site within the RTO.
Expected state: Automated failover is implemented and tested.
4. Document the plan
Write a detailed recovery plan with step-by-step procedures and contact information.
Expected state: A complete DR plan is documented and accessible.
5. Test recovery
Run a full DR test, switching to the recovery site and verifying the application works.
Expected state: The DR plan is tested and the RTO is met.
Decision points
Hot, warm, or cold standby?
- Hot for zero RTO
- Warm for cost balance
Use hot standby for critical apps; warm for important but not critical; cold for non-critical.
Expected outcome
A disaster recovery architecture is designed, automated, tested, and documented.
Verification
Run a DR test and confirm the application is available within the RTO with no more than RPO data loss.
Cleanup
Fail back to the primary site after DR testing; clean up any test resources.
DR is insurance you hope to never use
A disaster recovery plan is an investment in resilience that pays off in the worst case scenario.
Implementation Notes
This workflow provides a structured approach to ensure consistent results across team members and environments.
Common Pitfalls
Skipping verification steps or rushing through the process can lead to incomplete results. Always follow each step in order and verify before proceeding.
Quick Reference
# Execute the workflow steps as documented above
echo "Workflow completed successfully"