Testing Your Backups Actually Restore
A backup that has never been restored is a promise, not a guarantee. Files can be corrupt, exports can be incomplete and automated jobs can quietly fail for months. The only way to know a backup works is to restore it and check.
We treat restore testing as a routine, scheduled task rather than something we do for the first time during a real crisis.
What a Restore Test Involves
We take a recent backup, rebuild it into a safe test environment, and confirm the data and the application actually work.
- Pick a recent backup at random.
- Restore it into an isolated environment.
- Check key data, files and that the system runs.
- Record how long the restore took.
Why It Matters So Much
Discovering a backup is broken during an outage is the worst possible time. Regular testing catches problems while everything is calm and there is time to fix the process.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should restores be tested?
For important systems we test at least quarterly, and after any major change to the platform or backup setup.
Does testing risk the live system?
No — we always restore into a separate, isolated environment so the live system is never touched.
If you need a hand with any of this, your Progressive Robot delivery team is ready to help. Raise a ticket from the Support area of your client portal or speak to your account manager and we will guide you through the next steps.