Glossary · R
Recovery time objective
A recovery time objective is the maximum time a system or process may be unavailable after a disruption before the consequence to the business becomes unacceptable.
Extended definition
In more detail.
It is paired with the recovery point objective, the maximum acceptable data loss measured in time. Both should be set by the business through impact analysis and then met by technology through design and testing. An objective set without a test is a guess; recovery testing measures the actual time and shows the gap, which is usually larger than expected.
In our work
Where it appears.
Objectives are set in business continuity planning and measured in recovery testing.
By David Selakovic · Published 2026-10-16 · Revised 2026-10-16 · Reviewed every 180 days