diff --git a/apps/emqx/integration_test/emqx_persistent_session_ds_SUITE.erl b/apps/emqx/integration_test/emqx_persistent_session_ds_SUITE.erl
index 6c5fdc56e..56246e743 100644
--- a/apps/emqx/integration_test/emqx_persistent_session_ds_SUITE.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx/integration_test/emqx_persistent_session_ds_SUITE.erl
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ cluster(#{n := N}) ->
 app_specs() ->
     [
         emqx_durable_storage,
-        {emqx, "persistent_session_store = {ds = true}"}
+        {emqx, "session_persistence = {enable = true}"}
     ].
 
 get_mqtt_port(Node, Type) ->
diff --git a/apps/emqx/src/emqx_persistent_message.erl b/apps/emqx/src/emqx_persistent_message.erl
index 632ff2a27..82a345eef 100644
--- a/apps/emqx/src/emqx_persistent_message.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx/src/emqx_persistent_message.erl
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 -include("emqx.hrl").
 
 -export([init/0]).
--export([is_store_enabled/0]).
+-export([is_persistence_enabled/0]).
 
 %% Message persistence
 -export([
@@ -28,9 +28,8 @@
 
 -define(PERSISTENT_MESSAGE_DB, emqx_persistent_message).
 
-%% FIXME
 -define(WHEN_ENABLED(DO),
-    case is_store_enabled() of
+    case is_persistence_enabled() of
         true -> DO;
         false -> {skipped, disabled}
     end
@@ -40,18 +39,26 @@
 
 init() ->
     ?WHEN_ENABLED(begin
-        ok = emqx_ds:open_db(?PERSISTENT_MESSAGE_DB, #{
-            backend => builtin,
-            storage => {emqx_ds_storage_bitfield_lts, #{}}
-        }),
+        Backend = storage_backend(),
+        ok = emqx_ds:open_db(?PERSISTENT_MESSAGE_DB, Backend),
         ok = emqx_persistent_session_ds_router:init_tables(),
         ok = emqx_persistent_session_ds:create_tables(),
         ok
     end).
 
--spec is_store_enabled() -> boolean().
-is_store_enabled() ->
-    emqx_config:get([persistent_session_store, ds]).
+-spec is_persistence_enabled() -> boolean().
+is_persistence_enabled() ->
+    emqx_config:get([session_persistence, enable]).
+
+-spec storage_backend() -> emqx_ds:create_db_opts().
+storage_backend() ->
+    storage_backend(emqx_config:get([session_persistence, storage])).
+
+storage_backend(#{builtin := #{enable := true}}) ->
+    #{
+        backend => builtin,
+        storage => {emqx_ds_storage_bitfield_lts, #{}}
+    }.
 
 %%--------------------------------------------------------------------
 
diff --git a/apps/emqx/src/emqx_schema.erl b/apps/emqx/src/emqx_schema.erl
index 3ad03c4d4..ef34d3e8f 100644
--- a/apps/emqx/src/emqx_schema.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx/src/emqx_schema.erl
@@ -294,7 +294,19 @@ roots(low) ->
         {"persistent_session_store",
             sc(
                 ref("persistent_session_store"),
-                #{importance => ?IMPORTANCE_HIDDEN}
+                #{
+                    %% NOTE
+                    %% Due to some quirks in interaction between `emqx_config` and
+                    %% `hocon_tconf`, schema roots cannot currently be deprecated.
+                    importance => ?IMPORTANCE_HIDDEN
+                }
+            )},
+        {"session_persistence",
+            sc(
+                ref("session_persistence"),
+                #{
+                    importance => ?IMPORTANCE_HIDDEN
+                }
             )},
         {"trace",
             sc(
@@ -309,11 +321,12 @@ roots(low) ->
     ].
 
 fields("persistent_session_store") ->
+    Deprecated = #{deprecated => {since, "5.4.0"}},
     [
         {"enabled",
             sc(
                 boolean(),
-                #{
+                Deprecated#{
                     default => false,
                     %% TODO(5.2): change field name to 'enable' and keep 'enabled' as an alias
                     aliases => [enable],
@@ -323,7 +336,7 @@ fields("persistent_session_store") ->
         {"ds",
             sc(
                 boolean(),
-                #{
+                Deprecated#{
                     default => false,
                     importance => ?IMPORTANCE_HIDDEN
                 }
@@ -331,7 +344,7 @@ fields("persistent_session_store") ->
         {"on_disc",
             sc(
                 boolean(),
-                #{
+                Deprecated#{
                     default => true,
                     desc => ?DESC(persistent_store_on_disc)
                 }
@@ -339,7 +352,7 @@ fields("persistent_session_store") ->
         {"ram_cache",
             sc(
                 boolean(),
-                #{
+                Deprecated#{
                     default => false,
                     desc => ?DESC(persistent_store_ram_cache)
                 }
@@ -347,7 +360,7 @@ fields("persistent_session_store") ->
         {"backend",
             sc(
                 hoconsc:union([ref("persistent_session_builtin")]),
-                #{
+                Deprecated#{
                     default => #{
                         <<"type">> => <<"builtin">>,
                         <<"session">> =>
@@ -363,7 +376,7 @@ fields("persistent_session_store") ->
         {"max_retain_undelivered",
             sc(
                 duration(),
-                #{
+                Deprecated#{
                     default => <<"1h">>,
                     desc => ?DESC(persistent_session_store_max_retain_undelivered)
                 }
@@ -371,7 +384,7 @@ fields("persistent_session_store") ->
         {"message_gc_interval",
             sc(
                 duration(),
-                #{
+                Deprecated#{
                     default => <<"1h">>,
                     desc => ?DESC(persistent_session_store_message_gc_interval)
                 }
@@ -379,7 +392,7 @@ fields("persistent_session_store") ->
         {"session_message_gc_interval",
             sc(
                 duration(),
-                #{
+                Deprecated#{
                     default => <<"1m">>,
                     desc => ?DESC(persistent_session_store_session_message_gc_interval)
                 }
@@ -1740,6 +1753,45 @@ fields("trace") ->
                 importance => ?IMPORTANCE_HIDDEN,
                 desc => ?DESC(fields_trace_payload_encode)
             })}
+    ];
+fields("session_persistence") ->
+    [
+        {"enable",
+            sc(
+                boolean(), #{
+                    desc => ?DESC(session_persistence_enable),
+                    default => false
+                }
+            )},
+        {"storage",
+            sc(
+                ref("session_storage_backend"), #{
+                    desc => ?DESC(session_persistence_storage),
+                    validator => fun validate_backend_enabled/1,
+                    default => #{
+                        <<"builtin">> => #{}
+                    }
+                }
+            )}
+    ];
+fields("session_storage_backend") ->
+    [
+        {"builtin",
+            sc(ref("session_storage_backend_builtin"), #{
+                desc => ?DESC(session_storage_backend_builtin),
+                required => {false, recursively}
+            })}
+    ];
+fields("session_storage_backend_builtin") ->
+    [
+        {"enable",
+            sc(
+                boolean(),
+                #{
+                    desc => ?DESC(session_storage_backend_enable),
+                    default => true
+                }
+            )}
     ].
 
 mqtt_listener(Bind) ->
@@ -1992,6 +2044,8 @@ desc("ocsp") ->
     "Per listener OCSP Stapling configuration.";
 desc("crl_cache") ->
     "Global CRL cache options.";
+desc("session_persistence") ->
+    "Settings governing durable sessions persistence.";
 desc(_) ->
     undefined.
 
@@ -2014,6 +2068,17 @@ ensure_list(V) ->
 filter(Opts) ->
     [{K, V} || {K, V} <- Opts, V =/= undefined].
 
+validate_backend_enabled(Config) ->
+    Enabled = maps:filter(fun(_, #{<<"enable">> := E}) -> E end, Config),
+    case maps:to_list(Enabled) of
+        [{_Type, _BackendConfig}] ->
+            ok;
+        _Conflicts = [_ | _] ->
+            {error, multiple_enabled_backends};
+        _None = [] ->
+            {error, no_enabled_backend}
+    end.
+
 %% @private This function defines the SSL opts which are commonly used by
 %% SSL listener and client.
 -spec common_ssl_opts_schema(map(), server | client) -> hocon_schema:field_schema().
diff --git a/apps/emqx/src/emqx_session.erl b/apps/emqx/src/emqx_session.erl
index 4bae4ce03..ba49d3f85 100644
--- a/apps/emqx/src/emqx_session.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx/src/emqx_session.erl
@@ -617,11 +617,11 @@ maybe_mock_impl_mod(_) ->
 
 -spec choose_impl_mod(conninfo()) -> module().
 choose_impl_mod(#{expiry_interval := EI}) ->
-    hd(choose_impl_candidates(EI, emqx_persistent_message:is_store_enabled())).
+    hd(choose_impl_candidates(EI, emqx_persistent_message:is_persistence_enabled())).
 
 -spec choose_impl_candidates(conninfo()) -> [module()].
 choose_impl_candidates(#{expiry_interval := EI}) ->
-    choose_impl_candidates(EI, emqx_persistent_message:is_store_enabled()).
+    choose_impl_candidates(EI, emqx_persistent_message:is_persistence_enabled()).
 
 choose_impl_candidates(_, _IsPSStoreEnabled = false) ->
     [emqx_session_mem];
diff --git a/apps/emqx/test/emqx_persistent_messages_SUITE.erl b/apps/emqx/test/emqx_persistent_messages_SUITE.erl
index 45cf85a05..922d7248f 100644
--- a/apps/emqx/test/emqx_persistent_messages_SUITE.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx/test/emqx_persistent_messages_SUITE.erl
@@ -291,7 +291,7 @@ publish(Node, Message) ->
 app_specs() ->
     [
         emqx_durable_storage,
-        {emqx, "persistent_session_store {ds = true}"}
+        {emqx, "session_persistence {enable = true}"}
     ].
 
 cluster() ->
diff --git a/apps/emqx/test/emqx_persistent_session_SUITE.erl b/apps/emqx/test/emqx_persistent_session_SUITE.erl
index 77b625f05..f3af45fe0 100644
--- a/apps/emqx/test/emqx_persistent_session_SUITE.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx/test/emqx_persistent_session_SUITE.erl
@@ -35,8 +35,8 @@ all() ->
         % NOTE
         % Tests are disabled while existing session persistence impl is being
         % phased out.
-        {group, persistent_store_disabled},
-        {group, persistent_store_ds}
+        {group, persistence_disabled},
+        {group, persistence_enabled}
     ].
 
 %% A persistent session can be resumed in two ways:
@@ -54,24 +54,24 @@ groups() ->
     TCs = emqx_common_test_helpers:all(?MODULE),
     TCsNonGeneric = [t_choose_impl],
     [
-        {persistent_store_disabled, [{group, no_kill_connection_process}]},
-        {persistent_store_ds, [{group, no_kill_connection_process}]},
+        {persistence_disabled, [{group, no_kill_connection_process}]},
+        {persistence_enabled, [{group, no_kill_connection_process}]},
         {no_kill_connection_process, [], [{group, tcp}, {group, quic}, {group, ws}]},
         {tcp, [], TCs},
         {quic, [], TCs -- TCsNonGeneric},
         {ws, [], TCs -- TCsNonGeneric}
     ].
 
-init_per_group(persistent_store_disabled, Config) ->
+init_per_group(persistence_disabled, Config) ->
     [
-        {emqx_config, "persistent_session_store { enabled = false }"},
-        {persistent_store, false}
+        {emqx_config, "session_persistence { enable = false }"},
+        {persistence, false}
         | Config
     ];
-init_per_group(persistent_store_ds, Config) ->
+init_per_group(persistence_enabled, Config) ->
     [
-        {emqx_config, "persistent_session_store { ds = true }"},
-        {persistent_store, ds}
+        {emqx_config, "session_persistence { enable = true }"},
+        {persistence, ds}
         | Config
     ];
 init_per_group(Group, Config) when Group == tcp ->
@@ -312,7 +312,7 @@ t_choose_impl(Config) ->
     {ok, _} = emqtt:ConnFun(Client),
     [ChanPid] = emqx_cm:lookup_channels(ClientId),
     ?assertEqual(
-        case ?config(persistent_store, Config) of
+        case ?config(persistence, Config) of
             false -> emqx_session_mem;
             ds -> emqx_persistent_session_ds
         end,
@@ -878,7 +878,7 @@ t_multiple_subscription_matches(Config) ->
     ok = emqtt:disconnect(Client2).
 
 skip_ds_tc(Config) ->
-    case ?config(persistent_store, Config) of
+    case ?config(persistence, Config) of
         ds ->
             {skip, "Testcase not yet supported under 'emqx_persistent_session_ds' implementation"};
         _ ->
diff --git a/apps/emqx/test/emqx_persistent_session_ds_router_SUITE.erl b/apps/emqx/test/emqx_persistent_session_ds_router_SUITE.erl
index 3e48173c3..cc50d66ee 100644
--- a/apps/emqx/test/emqx_persistent_session_ds_router_SUITE.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx/test/emqx_persistent_session_ds_router_SUITE.erl
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ init_per_suite(Config) ->
     AppSpecs = [
         emqx_durable_storage,
         {emqx, #{
-            config => #{persistent_session_store => #{ds => true}},
+            config => #{session_persistence => #{enable => true}},
             override_env => [{boot_modules, [broker]}]
         }}
     ],
diff --git a/apps/emqx_conf/src/emqx_conf_cli.erl b/apps/emqx_conf/src/emqx_conf_cli.erl
index fc00c7dc9..7e55ada4f 100644
--- a/apps/emqx_conf/src/emqx_conf_cli.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx_conf/src/emqx_conf_cli.erl
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ keys() ->
     emqx_config:get_root_names() -- hidden_roots().
 
 drop_hidden_roots(Conf) ->
-    lists:foldl(fun(K, Acc) -> maps:remove(K, Acc) end, Conf, hidden_roots()).
+    maps:without(hidden_roots(), Conf).
 
 hidden_roots() ->
     [
@@ -202,6 +202,7 @@ hidden_roots() ->
         <<"stats">>,
         <<"broker">>,
         <<"persistent_session_store">>,
+        <<"session_persistence">>,
         <<"plugins">>,
         <<"zones">>
     ].
diff --git a/apps/emqx_management/src/emqx_mgmt_data_backup.erl b/apps/emqx_management/src/emqx_mgmt_data_backup.erl
index e75e5f935..9825b26cf 100644
--- a/apps/emqx_management/src/emqx_mgmt_data_backup.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx_management/src/emqx_mgmt_data_backup.erl
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@
     <<"limiter">>,
     <<"log">>,
     <<"persistent_session_store">>,
+    <<"session_persistence">>,
     <<"prometheus">>,
     <<"crl_cache">>,
     <<"conn_congestion">>,
diff --git a/rel/i18n/emqx_schema.hocon b/rel/i18n/emqx_schema.hocon
index 3eb816f3b..d12f6a2d1 100644
--- a/rel/i18n/emqx_schema.hocon
+++ b/rel/i18n/emqx_schema.hocon
@@ -1555,4 +1555,17 @@ description.label:
 description.desc:
 """Descriptive text."""
 
+session_persistence_enable.desc:
+"""Use durable storage for client sessions persistence.
+If enabled, sessions configured to outlive client connections, along with their corresponding messages, will be durably stored and survive broker downtime."""
+
+session_persistence_storage.desc:
+"""Durable storage backend to use for session persistence."""
+
+session_storage_backend_enable.desc:
+"""Enable this backend."""
+
+session_storage_backend_builtin.desc:
+"""Builtin session storage backend utilizing embedded RocksDB key-value store."""
+
 }