In DR planning, which combination of RTO and RPO is generally most desirable?

• A. Long RTO and High RPO.
• B. Short RTO and Short RPO.
• C. Long RTO and No data protection.
• D. Short RTO and No data protection.

Answer: (D)

In DR planning, the goal is to minimize both the downtime and the amount of data you might lose after a disruption. The most effective target is to have a short recovery time and a short recovery point. A short RTO means your systems can be back up quickly, reducing the period of interrupted operations. A short RPO means you’re able to recover data that’s nearly current, limiting how much data would be lost. When data protection isn’t in place, you can’t guarantee that any recent data will be recoverable, which defeats the purpose of disaster recovery even if recovery time is fast. Conversely, long recovery times or allowances for large data losses expose the business to greater risk and impact. So, prioritizing fast restoration together with minimal data loss best preserves continuity and integrity.