In BC/DR planning, what is the goal measured in time for recovering from interruptions?

The goal measured in time for recovering from interruptions is known as the Recovery Time Objective (RTO). RTO is a critical element in business continuity and disaster recovery (BC/DR) planning, as it determines the maximum acceptable duration that an organization can tolerate for systems and applications to be down after an incident occurs. It essentially sets the time framework within which recovery efforts must be undertaken to restore services and resume normal operations.

RTO is essential for planning and prioritization because it helps organizations allocate the necessary resources and strategies to meet recovery timelines. For example, if the RTO is set at four hours for a specific application, the organization must ensure that it can restore operations within that timeframe after a disruption.

In the context of BC/DR, RTO directly impacts how organizations design their recovery strategies, including the choice of technology, backup solutions, and the overall framework for incident response. This makes understanding and setting the appropriate RTO a key component of an effective BC/DR plan.