Free course

Backup and Restore Course

Design a recovery plan, create encrypted versioned backups with restic, protect databases and keys, and prove every backup through restoration.

5 modules · 25 lessons · No signup

Prerequisites: Shell Commands and Shell Scripting and Automation

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What you'll learn

Automate encrypted backups with clear retention and offsite copies, then restore files and an application in a timed recovery rehearsal.

Course contents

  1. Plan recovery

    Inventory data, define recovery targets, apply 3-2-1, and model loss and compromise.

    1. ✓ Inventory what must survive
    2. ✓ Define RPO and RTO
    3. ✓ Apply the 3-2-1 pattern
    4. ✓ Threat-model the backup
    5. ✓ Check your understanding: plan recovery

  2. File backup tools

    Create archives, copy trees, preserve metadata, verify checksums, and distinguish synchronization from backup.

    1. ✓ Create and extract an archive
    2. ✓ Copy a tree with rsync
    3. ✓ Preserve required metadata
    4. ✓ Verify files with checksums
    5. ✓ Check your understanding: file backup tools

  3. Encrypted versioned backups

    Create a restic repository, make snapshots, exclude disposable data, and inspect stored history.

    1. ✓ Initialize a restic repository
    2. ✓ Create a restic snapshot
    3. ✓ Exclude disposable and secret inputs
    4. ✓ Inspect and compare snapshots
    5. ✓ Check your understanding: encrypted versioned backups

  4. Restore and retention

    Restore files and full trees, verify repositories, apply retention, and maintain an independent offsite copy.

    1. ✓ Restore one file
    2. ✓ Perform a full restore drill
    3. ✓ Check repository integrity
    4. ✓ Apply retention with care
    5. ✓ Check your understanding: restore and retention

  5. Application recovery

    Back up databases consistently, automate jobs, protect keys, alert on failure, and rehearse a complete disaster.

    1. ✓ Back up a database consistently
    2. ✓ Automate and alert on backups
    3. ✓ Protect recovery credentials
    4. ✓ Run a disaster recovery exercise
    5. ✓ Check your understanding: application recovery