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ApsaraDB RDS:Differences between default RDS backups and Data Disaster Recovery backups

Last Updated:Mar 30, 2026

ApsaraDB RDS provides built-in backups for every instance. If you need any of the following capabilities, use Data Disaster Recovery to extend your backup strategy:

  • Cross-account backup

  • Storing backup files in your own Object Storage Service (OSS) bucket

  • Automatically downloading backup files

  • Encrypting backup files in transit using SSL

Feature comparison

Scenario Feature RDS default backup (physical backup or snapshot) Data Disaster Recovery (logical backup) Tutorial
Perform backups Scheduled backup Automatically enabled; cannot be disabled Must be manually enabled Automatic backup
Incremental backup (log backup) Supported Supported
Back up individual databases and tables High-performance local disk: supported; Disk: not supported. Manual backup: supported; Scheduled backup: not supported; Incremental backup: not supported Supported Database and table level backup
Geo-redundancy (cross-region backup) Supported Supported Cross-region backup
Cross-account backup Not supported Supported Back up and restore data across Alibaba Cloud accounts
Store backup files Store backup files in your OSS bucket Not supported Supported Logical backup for RDS MySQL or self-managed MySQL
Download backup files Manually download backup files Supported Supported Download backup files
Automatically download backup files Not supported Supported
Encrypt backup files Encrypt backup files at rest Supported Supported Backup encryption
Encrypt backup files in transit using SSL Not supported Supported
Restore data Restoration within seconds Supported Not supported Emergency recovery for RDS MySQL
Restore individual databases and tables Supported Supported Restore RDS default backup (database and table level) and Restore Data Disaster Recovery backup (database and table level)
Restore data to an RDS instance using backup files Supported Supported See Restore data

Restore data

Both RDS default backups and Data Disaster Recovery support multiple restore targets. The methods available depend on which backup type you use.

Restore to a new instance

RDS default backup:

Data Disaster Recovery:

Restore to the original instance

RDS default backup — choose one of the following methods:

Data Disaster Recovery:

Restore to another existing instance

RDS default backup — choose one of the following methods:

Data Disaster Recovery:

Restore to a self-managed database

RDS default backup — choose one of the following methods:

Data Disaster Recovery: