Techniques are described for determining whether a backup chain is within a recoverable range. The recoverable range defines a time interval in which data from a database system is recoverable to a point in time within the time interval. The backup chain is preserved while the backup chain is within the recoverable range. Upon determining that the backup chain is not within the recoverable range, operations are described for checking a retention policy for the backup chain, determining whether to preserve or expire the backup chain based on the retention policy, and preserving the backup chain based on that determination.