Test a small restore regularly, at least once a quarter, and run a fuller restore test whenever something significant changes, such as a new server, a new backup tool or a move to a different cloud service.
Two kinds of test
- Spot checks: restore a handful of files or a mailbox folder to a separate location and open them. Quick, low-risk and worth doing often.
- Full recovery tests: restore an entire system or database to a test machine and confirm it works. These take longer, so schedule them less often and plan them properly.
Write down what you learn
Record what you restored, where from, how long it took and anything that went wrong. Over time these notes show whether you could meet the business’s expectations for recovery, and they become the instructions someone follows on a stressful day.
Signs you should test sooner
Backup jobs reporting warnings, storage nearing capacity, a change in who manages backups, or a suspected security incident are all reasons to test now rather than waiting.
Our step-by-step restore test guide shows how. See also the backup plans page.