What’s the difference between RTO and RTO’?

RTO is time to restore service. RTO’ is time to restore safely—after rotating keys, scanning artifacts, and verifying controls. Track both so you don’t reward unsafe speed.

How do we prove to auditors that our DR works?

Automate evidence: SARIF from policy checks, signed attestations (Cosign), AWS Config/InSpec conformance reports, and timestamped drill logs in a write-once bucket (Object Lock). Treat audits like CI: reproducible, machine-readable outputs.

Is Kyverno or Gatekeeper better for admission policy?

If you’re already invested in OPA/Rego across infra, Gatekeeper keeps the language consistent. If you want Kubernetes-native ergonomics and built-ins for image verification, Kyverno 1.13+ is excellent. We deploy both depending on team skill and stack.

Do we need a second AWS account for DR?

Yes. Cross-account backups and restores reduce blast radius and let you separate KMS administrators. Same-account backups are convenient until they’re not—especially during a breach.

How often should we drill?

Monthly tabletops and quarterly live restores. Rotate keys during drills. If you can’t practice it, you won’t ship it under pressure.

Security-compliance · Nov 12, 2025 · 10 minute read

The Restore That Doesn’t Re‑Open the Breach: DR Plans for When Security Fails

Most DR plans assume hardware dies, not that your prod identity is burning. Here’s how to design breach‑aware recovery with real guardrails, automated proofs, and enough speed to keep the business alive—without leaking regulated data.

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The Restore That Doesn’t Re‑Open the Breach: DR Plans for When Security Fails

Key takeaways

Implementation checklist