A green message after the backup run is reassuring. But in an emergency, another question is crucial: Can your team actually continue working with the restored data?
Start from the business process
Think of an application without which your business will only function to a limited extent. What data does this include? Are additional settings, access rights or other systems required? A file may be able to be opened, but the associated work process still does not run again.
That’s why a backup concept shouldn’t just list storage locations. It should explain how the required information gets back into a usable state.
Clearly identify two goals
Discuss how many changes since the last backup are likely to be lost in a worst-case scenario. Separately, clarify how long an outage may last. Both goals influence the technical solution and the effort. A rarely changed template may have different requirements than ongoing jobs.
A small test is a good start
Choose a manageable case, such as restoring an accidentally deleted project folder. Determine who will run the test and how to prevent current data from being overwritten. After the playback, a technically responsible person checks the content.
- Was the correct backup found?
- Were access and necessary tools available?
- Could the data be fully used?
- How long did the entire process take?
- Which steps need to be documented or improved?
Backup is not the same as restart
Manufacturers also differentiate between data backup and resuming a service after a failure. Azure Backup, for example, supports backup scenarios for various workloads; Complete emergency planning must also consider the respective applications and dependencies.
A logged test provides more security than simply assuming that an existing copy will be sufficient in an emergency.
Irontec helps to combine backup targets and tests into one Backup and recovery concept to translate.
