September 21, 2023
What a Tested Backup Actually Proves
Backup success messages are not the same as proven recovery. Here is what a useful restore test should establish.
Successful jobs are only the start
A green dashboard confirms that a process completed; it does not prove the right data can be restored within the time the organisation needs.
Define the recovery objective
Identify priority systems, acceptable data loss and the maximum useful recovery time. Test representative files, applications and full service recovery where appropriate.
Record the result
Capture what was restored, how long it took, who was involved and what must improve. Repeat tests after material platform or configuration changes.