Definition
Recovery Time Objective (RTO) defines the target time required to restore a system or process after a failure. It does not necessarily mean restoring every function immediately—an organization can define a minimum operating level and the order in which services are restarted. A shorter RTO usually requires standby resources, more automation, and more frequent tests, all of which affect the solution’s cost. This parameter should reflect the business consequences of downtime rather than a general expectation that everything must operate without interruption. RTO is established together with RPO, a communication plan, and responsibility for the recovery decision. Explore Cloud & Infrastructure.