Module 5: Upgrades, Backups, and Disaster Recovery

Why This Module Matters to You

This module prepares you to plan Moodle lifecycle activities with controlled risk, repeatable validation, and clear recovery options.

What You Will Be Able to Do

• Build an upgrade plan that includes compatibility, rehearsal, validation, and rollback criteria.
• Explain what must be protected for a complete Moodle recovery.
• Distinguish backups from tested restore capability.

Topics You Will Practice

• Moodle release and plugin compatibility review.
• Staging rehearsals and maintenance windows.
• Application files, database, moodledata, configuration, and secrets.
• Backup schedules, retention, encryption, and restore testing.
• Disaster-recovery objectives and communication plans.

Hands-On Notes for You

Remember that an untested backup is only an assumption. Document exact restore steps and validation checks before they need them during an incident.