# OPS-3: Backup and Recovery

Status: not started

Domain:
- 4.0 Operational Procedures

Objective alignment:
- 4.3 Backup and recovery

## What You Need To Know

Backups only matter if they can be restored.

Backup types:
- Full: backs up all selected data.
- Incremental: backs up changes since the last backup of any type.
- Differential: backs up changes since the last full backup.
- Synthetic full: builds a full backup from previous backup data.

Rotation concepts:
- Onsite and offsite
- Grandfather-father-son
- 3-2-1 rule

Restore options:
- Restore in place
- Restore to alternate location

## Memory Trick

Use **F-I-D-S**:

- **F**ull
- **I**ncremental
- **D**ifferential
- **S**ynthetic full

Shortcut:
- **Backups are promises; restore tests prove them.**

## Exam Clues

- Incremental backups are small and fast but restore chains can be longer.
- Differential backups grow until the next full backup.
- 3-2-1 means three copies, two media types, one offsite copy.
- Test restores on a defined schedule.