The Recovery Time Objective (RTO) defines the maximum acceptable downtime for a business function or system following a disruption. If the organization requires recovery in 30 minutes, that is the system's RTO. This metric guides the selection of technologies, staffing, and procedures needed to meet recovery expectations. "RTO defines the target time set for the recovery of IT and business activities after a disruption. It is a key BCP design parameter." - CISM Review Manual 15th Edition, Chapter 3: Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Planning*