The availability concept that the network technician should consider when selecting new network hardware is RTO (Recovery Time Objective). RTO is a metric that defines the maximum acceptable time for restoring a system or service after a disruption or failure. RTO is based on the impact and cost of downtime for the business and its customers. RTO helps determine the level of redundancy and backup needed for network hardware to ensure high availability and minimize downtime. References: CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Certification Study Guide, page 346; The Official CompTIA Network+ Student Guide (Exam N10-008), page 13-9.