A green tick on a backup job means a file was written. It does not mean the file is complete, uncorrupted, restorable, or that you know how to restore it under pressure. Restore drills close that gap.
What can go wrong
- The backup excludes a folder or database that was added after the job was set up.
- The database was backed up while being written, producing an inconsistent copy.
- The backup is encrypted and the key is stored only on the server you lost.
- The restore works but takes ten times longer than anyone assumed.
- Nobody remembers the steps, and the person who set it up has left.
A simple drill
- Pick a system and a date, for example last Tuesday's backup of the accounting database.
- Restore it to a separate, isolated environment, never over production.
- Check it: does the application start, is the data there, are recent records present, do totals match?
- Time each step, from finding the backup to a working service.
- Write down what was missing, slow or confusing, and fix it.
How often
- Monthly for critical systems, with a different system or date each time.
- After any significant change: a new application, a migration, a change of backup tool.
- A full disaster recovery exercise at least once a year.
Automate what you can
Backup integrity checks, test restores of databases into a scratch environment, and automatic comparison of record counts can run unattended and alert on problems. Keep the human drill too, because the people are part of the recovery.
Report the results
A short record of each drill, what was restored, how long it took and what was fixed, gives management real assurance and gives auditors exactly what they ask for.
How IDX helps
IDX Data Backup keeps encrypted, versioned backups in a separate region, and our team can run restore tests with you into an isolated environment. For systems protected by IDX Disaster Recovery, failover is tested as part of the service.
IDX on digital infrastructure
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