How to backup Active Directory using RecoveryManager Plus

Active Directory (AD) is crucial to the day-to-day operations of most organizations as it manages users, computers, applications, and resources within a network. It is designed to centralize and streamline access control to ensure only authorized users have access to critical resources. Given its essential role in IT infrastructure, a comprehensive AD backup and restoration solution is important. RecoveryManager Plus, a robust AD backup tool, can help you achieve this.

Consequences of AD failure

As the central hub for identity and access management, AD failure can disrupt business operations, leading to various risks, including:

• Operational downtime: Users across the organization might be unable to log in, access shared resources, or use essential applications if AD is compromised.
• Security risks: Unauthorized changes or corruption in AD can weaken access control, exposing sensitive data.
• Regulatory compliance: Failure to maintain an up-to-date backup can result in non-compliance, leading to potential legal and financial repercussions.
• Vulnerability to attacks: Cyberattacks targeting AD often focus on domain controllers to disrupt operations or gain access to confidential data.

How to backup Active Directory using RecoveryManager Plus

The following steps illustrate how you can back up AD objects using RecoveryManager Plus.

1. Log in to RecoveryManager Plus as an administrator.
2. Navigate to the Active Directory tab > Active Directory Objects > Settings > Backup Settings > Active Directory Objects.
3. Select the OU(s) to be backed up you wish to back up by clicking the icon from the Select OUs to Backup option.
4. Select the object type(s) you wish to back up by clicking the icon from the Select Object Types to Backup option. The available options include, User, Computer, Contact, Group, OU, Group Policy, Site, Dynamic Distribution Group, DNS Zone, Attribute Schema, and Class Schema objects.
5. From the Select Archive Repository drop-down menu, choose a repository from the list of all available repositories to store backup archives. If no repositories are available, click the icon to add a new repository. In the pop-up that appears, click Yes to proceed to add a new repository.
6. From the Full Backup Scheduler drop-down menu, set the frequency at which full backups must be taken to either weekly or monthly.
7. From the Incremental Backup Scheduler drop-down menu, set the frequency at which incremental backups must be taken to either hourly, daily, or weekly.
8. Schedule the time when backups must be generated from the Select Backup Time field.
9. Click Advanced Settings to specify the duration for which you wish to retain deleted AD objects in the Deleted Objects Validity field.
10. To backup GPOs using PAExec, check the Use PAExec to Backup GPOs box.
11. To restart a previous interrupted backup automatically, select the Auto-start Interrupted Backup option.
12. If you wish to force replicate all changes made to domain controllers before any backup operation is initiated, select the Force Replication option.
13. To include disabled objects in the backup, select the Backup Disabled Objects option.
14. Click Save.

    Figure 1: The Active Directory Objects Backup Settings page in RecoveryManager Plus.

After you have successfully backed up your AD objects, you can restore them in the event of data loss or corruption. RecoveryManager Plus enables you to efficiently:

• Restore domain controllers
• Restore AD users
• Restore AD groups
• Restore AD GPOs
• Restore OUs
• Restore computers
• Restore AD DNS zones
• Restore AD DNS nodes
• Restore contacts.

Best practices for AD backup

Here are some best practices to help you effectively back up your AD.

• Backup of domain controllers: Back up each domain controller independently to ensure you have an updated copy of all data.
• Automated backups: Implement automated backup schedules to minimize human error and maintain consistency in backup processes, ensuring regular and timely backups without the need for manual intervention.
• Customizable backup frequency: Schedule daily, weekly, or monthly backups based on the criticality of your data and the frequency of changes. Adjust the frequency to meet your organization's Recovery Point Objectives.
• Backup storage: Store backups in a secure, off-site location or on the cloud to reduce the risk of data loss due to disasters or system failures.
• Encryption: Protect your backups with encryption to prevent unauthorized access and ensure compliance.
• Disaster recovery plan: Develop a comprehensive disaster recovery plan that outlines the actions to recover AD from unexpected disasters efficiently.
• Testing: Regularly test your backup and recovery processes to identify issues early and ensure your processes are reliable and efficient when needed.