# Regular backups
<a name="regular-backups"></a>


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| Essential Eight control | Implementation guidance | AWS resources | AWS Well-Architected guidance | 
| --- |--- |--- |--- |
| Backups of important data, software and configuration settings are performed and retained in a coordinated and resilient manner in accordance with business continuity requirements. | [Theme 6: Automate backups](theme-6.md): Automate data backup and recovery | [Implement data backup on AWS](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/prescriptive-guidance/latest/backup-recovery/welcome.html)<br />[Automate data backup at scale](https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/storage/automate-centralized-backup-at-scale-across-aws-services-using-aws-backup/) (AWS blog post) | [REL09-BP01 Identify and back up all data that needs to be backed up, or reproduce the data from sources](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/wellarchitected/latest/framework/rel_backing_up_data_identified_backups_data.html)<br />[REL09-BP02 Secure and encrypt backups](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/wellarchitected/latest/framework/rel_backing_up_data_secured_backups_data.html)<br />[REL09-BP03 Perform data backup automatically](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/wellarchitected/latest/framework/rel_backing_up_data_automated_backups_data.html) | 
| Restoration of systems, software and important data from backups is tested in a coordinated manner as part of disaster recovery exercises. | [Theme 6: Automate backups](theme-6.md): Automate data backup and recovery<br />[Theme 6: Automate backups](theme-6.md): Implement governance across your AWS Backup outcomes | [Automate data recovery validation with AWS Backup](https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/storage/automate-data-recovery-validation-with-aws-backup/) (AWS blog post)<br />[Use AWS Backup Audit Manager to audit the compliance of your AWS Backup policies](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/aws-backup/latest/devguide/aws-backup-audit-manager.html) | [REL09-BP04 Perform periodic recovery of the data to verify backup integrity and processes](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/wellarchitected/latest/framework/rel_backing_up_data_periodic_recovery_testing_data.html) | 
| Unprivileged accounts, and privileged accounts (excluding backup administrators), cannot access backups. | [Theme 6: Automate backups](theme-6.md): Implement governance across your AWS Backup outcomes | [Top 10 security best practices for securing backups in AWS](https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/security/top-10-security-best-practices-for-securing-backups-in-aws/) (AWS blog post)<br />[Use AWS Backup Vault Lock to improve the security of your backup vaults](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/aws-backup/latest/devguide/vault-lock.html)<br />[Use AWS Backup Audit Manager to audit the compliance of your AWS Backup policies](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/aws-backup/latest/devguide/aws-backup-audit-manager.html) | [SEC08-BP04 Enforce access control](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/wellarchitected/latest/security-pillar/sec_protect_data_rest_access_control.html) | 
| Unprivileged accounts, and privileged accounts (excluding backup break glass accounts), are prevented from modifying or deleting backups. |