A Backup Is Not a Recovery Plan

Backups have little value until restoration is tested against acceptable recovery time and data-loss objectives.

A practical framework

Define what is backed up, how many copies exist, where they live, and how they are encrypted. Restore regularly in isolation and record time, steps, and single-person dependencies.

Checklist

• Database and files
• An off-provider copy
• Backup failure alerts
• Scheduled recovery drills

The next step

Choose one decision you can apply this week, assign an owner and success signal, then review the result before expanding scope.