Your backup needs a restore rehearsal
The useful test is whether people can get back to work after a failure.
The idea in plain language
A successful backup job is only part of recovery. This AWS guide recommends restoring data periodically, checking that it is usable, and measuring the result against the service’s recovery requirements.
- Check restored data by using the application, not only by checking that files exist.
- Measure how long recovery takes and how much recent data is missing.
- Keep the procedure repeatable, and fix the gaps each rehearsal reveals.
What it could look like at work
For example, restore an internal order tool into a separate environment. Have an authorized colleague sign in, open a known order, and retrieve an attachment. Record the time until those checks pass. This hypothetical exercise can uncover dependencies a backup dashboard cannot show.
Go a little deeper
For business recovery targets, the NIST guide below explains recovery time objectives (RTO) and recovery point objectives (RPO).
Original article: AWS recovery testing · CC BY-SA 4.0.