backupriktlinje

Backupriktlinje, or backup guideline, is a formal document that defines how an organization plans, executes, stores, and verifies data backups to protect information and enable recovery after data loss or disruptions. It sets expectations for data protection across systems, teams, and processes.

Its scope typically covers data categories, systems and applications, backup frequency, retention periods, storage locations (onsite, offsite, cloud), encryption, access controls, and responsibilities. It aligns with broader IT policies and compliance requirements, and it may reference related documents such as data retention policies and disaster recovery plans.

A core component is the backup strategy, including full, incremental, and differential backups, and the recovery objectives such as RPO (recovery point objective) and RTO (recovery time objective). It also specifies metadata standards, naming conventions, versioning, and how backups are documented and tracked.

Procedures describe how backups are executed, monitored, and tested, including verification of data integrity and restoration drills. The guideline defines escalation paths for failed backups, defines approval workflows for changes, and outlines how updates to the guideline are versioned and communicated.

Security and compliance aspects cover encryption in transit and at rest, key management, access restrictions, audit trails, and considerations for data localization and regulatory obligations (for example GDPR or HIPAA) as applicable. It also addresses incident response integration and recovery testing in regulated environments.

Governance and maintenance outline process ownership, review cycles, and documentation practices. Regular audits, performance metrics (backup success rate, average restore time), and alignment with disaster recovery plans are encouraged to ensure ongoing effectiveness. Best practices emphasize automation, simplicity, and avoiding single points of failure.