Create a Disaster Recovery Plan (DRP)

A Disaster Recovery Plan (DRP) ensures that your Linux server can quickly recover from:

✅ Hardware failures – Protects against disk crashes and server outages.
✅ Cybersecurity incidents – Ensures quick recovery from ransomware, data breaches, or malware attacks.
✅ Data corruption – Provides a clean, restorable backup in case of accidental deletion.
✅ Natural disasters – Ensures business continuity in case of power failures, fires, or network outages.

🔹 By implementing a DRP, you minimize downtime and data loss, ensuring rapid recovery in case of a disaster.

How to Create a Disaster Recovery Plan for Linux Servers

1. Identify Critical Data, Applications, and Infrastructure

Start by mapping out essential components that need to be protected and restored quickly in case of failure.

Step 1: List Critical Systems and Dependencies

Use the following categories to prioritize assets:
📌 Operating System: Linux version and kernel settings.
📌 Applications: Web servers (Apache, Nginx), databases (MySQL, PostgreSQL).
📌 Configuration Files: /etc/, /var/log/, /usr/local/bin/.
📌 User Data: Databases, email files, API keys.
📌 Network Components: Firewall settings, VPN access.
📌 Storage Devices: Mounted drives, RAID configurations.

Step 2: Document System Architecture

Use tree to generate a directory structure of critical files:

sudo apt install tree -y   # Debian/Ubuntu
sudo tree /etc /var /usr/local > system_structure.txt

Save this information offsite for future reference.

2. Set Up Automated Offsite Backups

Backups should be automatic, incremental, and securely stored at an offsite location.

Option 1: Use Rsync for Local and Remote Backups

To create incremental, scheduled backups:

rsync -av --delete /important_data /mnt/backup_drive/

To backup to a remote server:

rsync -avz /important_data user@backupserver:/backups/

🔹 Automate the process with a cron job:

sudo crontab -e

Add:

0 2 * * * rsync -avz /important_data user@backupserver:/backups/

🔹 Now, backups run every night at 2 AM.

Option 2: Use BorgBackup for Secure, Encrypted Backups

1. Install BorgBackup:

   sudo apt install borgbackup -y

2. Initialize the Backup Repository:

   borg init --encryption=repokey user@backupserver:/borg-backups

3. Create a Secure Backup:

   borg create --progress user@backupserver:/borg-backups::"backup-{now:%Y-%m-%d}" /important_data

4. Verify Backups:

   borg list user@backupserver:/borg-backups

🔹 Now, data is securely encrypted before transmission.

Option 3: Use Cloud Storage for Redundant Backups

Upload backups to AWS S3, Google Drive, or Backblaze B2 for disaster recovery.

To backup to AWS S3:

aws s3 sync /important_data s3://my-backup-bucket/ --storage-class STANDARD_IA

3. Regularly Test the Disaster Recovery Plan

A DRP is only effective if it works during a crisis.

Step 1: Test Data Restoration

Try restoring a backup to verify its integrity:

rsync -av user@backupserver:/backups/ /test_restore/

If using BorgBackup:

borg extract user@backupserver:/borg-backups::"backup-2024-01-15"

Step 2: Simulate a Full Server Failure

1. Provision a new Linux server.

2. Reinstall necessary packages:

   sudo apt update && sudo apt install apache2 mysql-server -y

3. Restore system files and data from backup.

4. Verify application functionality.

Step 3: Automate Disaster Simulations

Schedule regular tests:

sudo crontab -e

Add:

0 5 1 * * /usr/local/bin/test_dr.sh

(Runs a disaster simulation on the 1st of every month at 5 AM.)

4. Document and Maintain the DRP

A well-documented DRP ensures quick recovery in emergencies.

What to Include in Your DRP Document?

📌 List of critical systems and data that need recovery.
📌 Step-by-step recovery instructions for various failure scenarios.
📌 Contact information for IT admins and emergency support.
📌 Backup storage locations and retention policies.
📌 Schedule for DRP testing and maintenance.

Store the DRP documentation in multiple locations, including:

• Local IT documentation repository (/var/backups/drp.txt).

• Secure cloud storage (Google Drive, Nextcloud).

• Printed copies in case of network failures.

Best Practices for Disaster Recovery Planning

✅ Use redundant, offsite backups for data protection.
✅ Encrypt sensitive data before transmission to protect against leaks.
✅ Regularly test backup integrity to prevent failures during recovery.
✅ Document recovery procedures so staff can act quickly.
✅ Automate backup schedules to minimize manual errors.
✅ Review the DRP every 6 months to adapt to infrastructure changes.

By creating and testing a Disaster Recovery Plan (DRP), you ensure business continuity, minimize downtime, and protect critical Linux infrastructure, keeping your data secure and recoverable at all times.