IT infrastructure

Backups you can actually restore: a practical checklist

A backup is only useful if it can be restored in time. How to check yours.

· 1 min read · Neturon

Network cables connected to a switch.

Many organisations find out how good their backups are on the day they need them. A few plain questions, asked now, avoid that.

Decide what "recovered" means

For each important system, agree two things with the people who use it: how much recent work you could afford to lose, and how long you could manage without it. Those answers set how often backups run and how quickly a restore has to happen.

The checklist

  • Keep more than one copy, with at least one away from the main site or account.
  • Keep at least one copy that ransomware or an accidental deletion cannot change.
  • Include cloud services such as email and file storage, not only servers.
  • Protect backups with the same care as live data: encryption and limited access.
  • Test a restore on a schedule, and write down how long it took.
  • Know who is responsible for checking that backup jobs succeeded.

Backups and data protection

Backups contain personal data, so UK GDPR still applies to them. Retention periods should match your records policy, and a restore plan is part of keeping personal data available and secure.

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General guidance only. It is not legal, financial or regulatory advice, and it does not describe the results of any client project.

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