How do IaaS platforms handle disaster recovery?

IaaS platforms handle disaster recovery (DR) by providing infrastructure components and tools that developers can configure to replicate systems, automate backups, and restore operations during outages. These platforms offer scalable compute, storage, and networking resources hosted in geographically distributed data centers. By leveraging built-in services like automated snapshots, cross-region replication, and orchestrated failover, teams can design DR strategies that minimize downtime and data loss. For example, AWS EC2 instances can be paired with Amazon S3 for backups, while Azure Virtual Machines use Azure Site Recovery to replicate workloads across regions.

A key feature of IaaS DR is the ability to automate recovery workflows. Platforms like Google Cloud provide tools such as Persistent Disk snapshots and Cloud Storage for creating point-in-time backups, which can be restored in minutes. Cross-region replication ensures data is duplicated in separate locations, so if one zone fails, traffic reroutes to a standby environment. Network configurations, such as load balancers and DNS routing (e.g., AWS Route 53), help redirect user traffic during failover. Some services even allow developers to define recovery time objectives (RTO) and recovery point objectives (RPO) through policies, ensuring critical systems prioritize rapid restoration.

Developers retain flexibility in tailoring DR plans to their application’s needs. For instance, a “pilot light” setup keeps minimal infrastructure running in a standby region, while a “multi-region active-active” design distributes traffic across locations for near-instant failover. Costs vary based on the strategy: maintaining a full duplicate environment is expensive but offers low RTO, while infrequent backups reduce expenses but increase recovery time. Tools like AWS CloudFormation or Terraform can codify infrastructure setups, enabling consistent redeployment during recovery. Regular testing—such as simulating outages or validating backup integrity—is critical, as IaaS tools handle the infrastructure layer but require teams to configure and validate their DR workflows.