RDS Backups

Automated Backups

• RDS automatically performs a daily full backup during the configured backup window.

• Transaction logs are backed up every 5 minutes, enabling point-in-time restore (PITR) to any time from the oldest available backup up to 5 minutes before the current time.

• Retention period is configurable from 1 to 35 days.
• Setting the retention to 0 disables automated backups.

• Automated backups are stored in S3 and managed by AWS.

Manual DB Snapshots

• Created manually by the user at any time.

• Persist indefinitely until explicitly deleted.

• Can be used to restore a database to the exact state at the time the snapshot was taken.

• Useful for long-term archival or pre-deployment safety backups.

Cost Considerations

• Stopped RDS instances still incur storage costs for automated backups and allocated storage.

• For long-term shutdowns, take a manual snapshot and delete the instance to avoid unnecessary charges.

• Manual snapshots are billed based on storage size and duration of retention.