Rule: Backup Recovery Points Should Not Expire Before Retention Period
This rule ensures that backup recovery points do not expire prematurely, safeguarding data integrity.
| Rule | Backup recovery points should not expire before retention period |
| Framework | Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) |
| Severity | ✔ Low |
Rule Description
The rule states that backup recovery points should not expire before the retention period for Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC). This means that organizations should ensure that their backup recovery points are retained for the required duration as specified by FFIEC guidelines.
Troubleshooting Steps (if applicable)
- Verify the current retention period set for backup recovery points.
- Check the expiration dates of the existing recovery points.
- Validate whether any recovery points have expired prematurely.
- Evaluate the configuration settings of the backup solution to ensure alignment with FFIEC requirements.
Necessary Codes (if applicable)
If organizations are using a backup solution that allows code customization, the following code snippet can be used to enforce the retention period for recovery points:
# Code snippet for setting backup retention period backupRetentionPeriod = 180 # Set retention period in days backupSolution.setRetentionPeriod(backupRetentionPeriod)
Step-by-Step Guide for Remediation
- 1.
Determine the specific retention period required by FFIEC regulations. This retention period may vary based on the type of data being backed up and the organization's specific requirements.
- 2.
Identify the backup solution being used by the organization. It could be a cloud-based backup service, on-premises backup software, or a combination of both.
- 3.
Access the backup solution's management console or interface.
- 4.
Navigate to the settings or configuration section related to retention policies.
- 5.
Review the current retention period set for the backup recovery points. Ensure that it complies with the FFIEC requirements. If it does not align, proceed to the next step.
- 6.
Modify the retention period setting to the required timeframe as specified by FFIEC guidelines. Refer to the documentation or support resources provided by the backup solution for assistance if needed.
- 7.
Validate the changes by checking the backup recovery points' expiration dates. Ensure that none of the recovery points are set to expire before the newly configured retention period.
- 8.
Monitor the backup solution regularly to ensure ongoing compliance with FFIEC retention requirements. Periodically check the expiration dates of the recovery points to confirm that they align with the specified retention period.
- 9.
If any issues arise or if recovery points expire prematurely, investigate the root cause. It could be due to misconfiguration, software glitches, or other factors. Troubleshoot and resolve the issue promptly to maintain compliance with FFIEC requirements.
- 10.
Document the retention period configuration and any relevant troubleshooting steps taken. This documentation will serve as a reference for audits and future maintenance.
Note: The specific steps may vary depending on the backup solution being used. Refer to the official documentation or consult with the vendor for solution-specific instructions.