Automated backups: AWS provides automated backups of RDS that are turned on by default with a retention period of 7 days (default) to 35 days. This feature automatically creates a storage volume snapshot of your DB instance. This backs up the entire instance rather than individual databases. Since RDS provides a small amount of backup storage free of charge, it makes sense to use this service for shorter-term operational backups. For longer backup retention, for example for compliance purposes, Clumio backups are more suitable.
Manual Snapshots:Another option available within the AWS console is the ability to take a snapshot of your DB instance at a time and state of your choosing. This is also known as a DB snapshot. Manual snapshots can be taken in the AWS Management Console, using a CreateDBSnapshot API, or create-db-snapshot command.
Because taking this snapshot from a Single-AZ instance creates an I/O suspension that can last from seconds to minutes, you may want to consider taking this during your instance’s maintenance window.
If you’re using a Multi-AZ DB cluster, the window is less important because you can take a snapshot from a secondary db within the cluster. You could also take a DB cluster snapshot, which captures all databases within a given cluster. Multi-AZ database clusters allow you to create multiple secondary db instances that capture all changes to the primary, in different availability zones, within single regions.
Clumio backups: To achieve cost-effective long term retention of RDS backups, along with air-gapped security and granular record retrieval for easier audit performance, you can backup RDS databases with Clumio. Clumio backs up the following RDS database types: RDS MySQL, RDS Aurora (MySQL and PostgreSQL), RDS PostgreSQL, RDS MariaDB, RDS Oracle, and RDS SQL Server. Clumio enables fast, simple and flexible data recovery for databases, file storage, and object storage.