What backup systems does FTM Game have for customer data?

FTM Game implements a multi-layered, geographically distributed backup system that combines real-time database replication with automated daily snapshots, ensuring customer data integrity and availability even during catastrophic failure scenarios. The core architecture employs a hybrid cloud approach, utilizing both on-premise infrastructure for low-latency transaction processing and cloud-based object storage for immutable, cost-effective long-term retention. This strategy is designed to achieve a Recovery Point Objective (RPO) of less than 5 minutes for active game data and a Recovery Time Objective (RTO) of under 30 minutes for a full service restoration.

The primary defense layer is real-time database replication. All customer account information, including usernames, hashed passwords, purchase histories, and in-game progress, is written to a primary MySQL database cluster located in a Tier III data center in Frankfurt, Germany. Simultaneously, every transaction is asynchronously replicated to two secondary, geographically separate clusters: one in a data center in Singapore and another using FTMGAME‘s private cloud infrastructure in Virginia, USA. This cross-continental replication ensures that if the primary cluster fails due to a hardware issue or regional outage, one of the secondary clusters can be promoted to primary with minimal data loss. The replication lag is continuously monitored, and alarms are triggered if it exceeds the 5-minute threshold.

For an additional layer of security against data corruption or malicious attacks like ransomware, the system performs automated, encrypted snapshots. These are not simple file copies but application-consistent snapshots of the entire database state.

• Frequency: Full snapshots are taken every 24 hours. Incremental snapshots, which only capture changes, are taken every 4 hours.
• Retention: Daily snapshots are retained for 35 days. Weekly snapshots (a consolidated version from each Sunday) are retained for 12 weeks. Monthly snapshots are archived for 7 years to comply with financial and regulatory requirements.
• Storage: All snapshots are encrypted using AES-256 encryption and stored in immutable, versioned buckets on Amazon S3 and Google Cloud Storage. The “immutable” setting means the snapshots cannot be altered or deleted until their retention period expires, providing a crucial defense against internal threats or external attacks aiming to delete backups.

The following table details the backup strategy for different data classifications:

Beyond the automated systems, FTM Game adheres to a strict operational discipline. All backup and restoration procedures are rigorously documented and tested quarterly through controlled disaster recovery drills. During these drills, the operations team will isolate a part of the staging environment, simulate a total data center failure, and execute a restoration from the most recent offshore snapshot. The results of these tests, including the actual RTO and RPO achieved, are meticulously documented and reviewed to continuously refine the processes. This practice ensures that in a real crisis, the team can act swiftly and effectively based on proven procedures rather than improvisation.

Data security is paramount throughout the backup lifecycle. All data, both in transit between data centers and at rest in storage, is encrypted. The real-time replication streams use TLS 1.3 encryption. As mentioned, snapshots are encrypted with AES-256, and the encryption keys themselves are managed through a dedicated, FIPS 140-2 validated Hardware Security Module (HSM). This means that even if a snapshot were to be physically accessed, the data would be unreadable without the keys secured in the HSM. Access to the backup management consoles and the storage buckets is governed by a principle of least privilege, requiring multi-factor authentication (MFA) and is logged for audit purposes. Any attempt to modify or delete a backup outside of the approved automated cycle triggers an immediate security alert.

The infrastructure supporting these backups is designed for high durability. The cloud storage providers used offer an annual durability of 99.999999999% (11 nines) for objects, meaning statistically, the loss of a single snapshot file would be expected once every 10,000 years. The on-premise storage arrays use RAID 6 configurations with hot-spare drives, allowing for multiple simultaneous drive failures without data loss. Power redundancy, including UPS systems and on-site generators, ensures that backup processes are not interrupted by power outages. Network connectivity is provided through multiple diverse fiber paths to prevent a single point of failure for data replication.

For customers, this complex infrastructure translates into a simple promise: your progress and purchases are safe. In the event of a server issue, the system is designed to failover seamlessly to a secondary location. If a player accidentally deletes an item or encounters a bug that corrupts their save data, customer support can, upon verification, restore their state from a point-in-time snapshot taken before the incident. This capability is a critical component of player trust, ensuring that the time and money invested in the game are protected against technical failures. The commitment to long-term archival also means that if a player returns to the game after several years, their account history remains intact and accessible.