Point-in-Time Recovery for Databases
Point-in-time recovery (PITR) lets you restore a database to any exact moment, not just to the last scheduled backup. If a bad change happened at 2:47pm, you can roll back to 2:46pm and lose almost nothing.
This article explains how PITR works and when it is worth enabling.
How It Works
PITR combines a periodic full backup with a continuous log of every change. To recover, the system replays the log up to the chosen moment.
- Take a regular base backup.
- Continuously record every database change.
- To recover, restore the base then replay changes to the chosen second.
When You Need It
PITR is invaluable for busy transactional databases where even an hour of lost data is costly. For low-change systems, nightly backups are often enough and PITR would be an unnecessary expense.
What It Protects You From
PITR is especially powerful against human error. A mistaken bulk update, an accidental mass delete or a faulty data import can all be undone by rolling back to the instant before it happened, rather than losing a whole day of legitimate work alongside the mistake.
| Approach | Possible data loss |
|---|---|
| Nightly backup only | Up to 24 hours |
| Point-in-time recovery | Seconds |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does PITR replace normal backups?
No — it builds on them. You still need the base backups; PITR simply lets you recover to any moment between them.
If you need a hand with any of this, your Progressive Robot delivery team is ready to help. Raise a ticket from the Support area of your client portal or speak to your account manager and we will guide you through the next steps.