Which term describes the goal of minimizing data loss from an unplanned event?

The term that best describes the goal of minimizing data loss from an unplanned event is Recovery Point Objective (RPO). RPO refers to the maximum acceptable amount of data loss measured in time. It defines the point in time to which data must be restored after an incident, helping organizations establish how often they need to back up their data to avoid significant losses. For instance, if an organization has an RPO of one hour, it indicates that it is acceptable to lose up to one hour's worth of data during a disruption. This metric is crucial for disaster recovery planning as it directly influences backup strategies and frequency.

In contrast, while Recovery Time Objective (RTO) focuses on how quickly systems must be restored after a disruption, and Maximum Allowable Downtime (MAD) pertains to the maximum time a system can be down without unacceptable consequences, neither specifically addresses minimizing data loss. Data Loss Mitigation (DLM) is a broader concept that encompasses strategies to prevent data loss but does not quantify it in the way RPO does.