Disaster recovery
Quick answer
A DR plan that has never been executed is an assumption, not a capability.
Key takeaways
- DR ensures that if the primary data center is lost, the SAP system can be brought back at a secondary site within agreed limits on…
- Common approaches include HANA System Replication to a DR site, storage-level replication, and regular offsite backups.
- RPO (Recovery Point Objective): how much data loss is tolerable, drives replication frequency.
- Watch out: Protecting the database but not integrations/secrets.
What DR must achieve
DR ensures that if the primary data center is lost, the SAP system can be brought back at a secondary site within agreed limits on data loss and downtime. Because all state lives in the database, DR centers on replicating and recovering the database, plus rebuilding the application tier and reconnecting integrations.
RPO and RTO
- RPO (Recovery Point Objective): how much data loss is tolerable, drives replication frequency.
- RTO (Recovery Time Objective): how quickly the system must be back, drives standby readiness.
DR mechanisms
Common approaches include HANA System Replication to a DR site, storage-level replication, and regular offsite backups. Application-server configuration is kept reproducible so the app tier can be rebuilt or activated at the DR site.
Test the plan
A DR plan that has never been executed is an assumption, not a capability. Regular DR drills, actually failing over and validating, are what turn the plan into real resilience.
Common pitfalls
- Protecting the database but not integrations/secrets.
- RPO/RTO assumed rather than agreed with the business.
- Never rehearsing the failover.
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Check your understanding
Which statement is true of Disaster recovery?
- A. DR ensures that if the primary data center is lost, the SAP system can be brought back at a secondary site…
- B. Security administration protects the SAP system and its data through authorizations, secure configuration…
- C. SU01 is the SAP transaction code for User Maintenance (Basis/Security).
Show answer
A. DR ensures that if the primary data center is lost, the SAP system can be brought back at a secondary site…
Covered in the “What DR must achieve” section of this lesson.
Which of these also applies to Disaster recovery?
- A. Wrong planning strategy (MTS vs MTO).
- B. Using the wrong document type, wrong numbers and allowed accounts.
- C. Because all state lives in the database, DR centers on replicating and recovering the database, plus…
Show answer
C. Because all state lives in the database, DR centers on replicating and recovering the database, plus…
Covered in the “What DR must achieve” section of this lesson.
Which part of the Learn SAP curriculum covers Disaster recovery?
- A. SAP performance tuning
- B. SAP installation
- C. SAP architecture
Show answer
C. SAP architecture
This lesson sits in the SAP architecture section of the Learn SAP course.