How do you test and restore your backups in case of a disaster recovery scenario?

Snapshots and backups are critical components of data protection strategies. Snapshots capture the state of a system or volume at a specific point in time, providing a quick way to revert to that state in case of data corruption or accidental deletion. They are typically stored on the same system and are used for short-term recovery due to their quick creation and restoration times. However, since snapshots reside on the same storage system, they are not ideal for long-term disaster recovery. Backups, on the other hand, are comprehensive copies of data stored on separate media or locations, such as external drives, cloud storage, or remote servers.

Snapshots can be resumed like take a photo before to your maintenance window before you apply changes. Your storage will just take that point in time photo and reserve it to back to this before state if needed quick and with an advantage to don't be need duplicate all your data. Snaps are most used to system operational/configs disks/luns dedicated not do backup of large data bases/systems. For large amounts of data is recommended use a traditional backup to a external storage area because you will reserve it for longer periods with specific polices and have features like data deduplication and compress to do a better reduction of space and have a integrity checks on this backup data. Use both of them combined!

You need to test your backup to have a real ideia if all this backup data will be usefully when your really will need it! To have an ideia of how is you RTO and to test all your procedures with all engaged teams are good enough. You have a lot of possibilities to have just one and a minor error on this procedure that will cause an incomplete, corrupted, or improperly backup and after this you will just loose time and bring more outage time and financial problems to a company and you will abort it and try a second plan maybe if you have it!? Tests to turns your environment to a DR site and backups need to be on regular a schedule from any company and well documented and managed with your technical and TI managers teams.

Testing backups is crucial to ensure data can be successfully restored when needed. Without regular testing, there's a risk that backups may be incomplete, corrupted, or improperly configured, leading to failures during critical recovery scenarios. Testing verifies the integrity and completeness of the backup data, ensuring that all necessary files and systems are included and can be restored without issues. Moreover, regular testing of backups helps identify potential weaknesses in the backup process, such as outdated procedures, insufficient storage capacity, or inadequate backup frequencies.

To test backups effectively, start by restoring a subset of data from the backup to an isolated environment. This process should include various types of data, such as files, databases, and application configurations, to ensure comprehensive testing. Verify that the restored data is complete, uncorrupted, and usable. Automated scripts and checksum comparisons can be used to validate data integrity and consistency during the restoration process. In addition to partial restores, conduct full-scale disaster recovery drills periodically. These drills simulate real-world disaster scenarios, such as server failures or data center outages, and involve restoring entire systems and applications from backups.

Restoring backups involves several key steps to ensure a successful recovery. First, identify the most recent and relevant backup that needs to be restored. Ensure that the backup media or location is accessible and intact. Initiate the restoration process by copying the backup data to the target system or storage. Depending on the backup solution used, this may involve using specific software tools or scripts to automate the process. After the data is restored, verify the integrity and functionality of the restored systems. Check for data corruption, missing files, and configuration errors. It's important to test the restored applications and services to ensure they operate as expected.

Implementing best practices for testing and restoring backups enhances the reliability and efficiency of your disaster recovery strategy. Regularly schedule automated backup tests to ensure consistency and minimize manual errors. Use a combination of full, incremental, and differential backups to balance storage requirements and recovery times. Regularly update backup scripts and configurations to reflect changes in the IT environment, such as new applications, updated operating systems, or additional data sources. Maintain detailed documentation of backup and restoration procedures, including step-by-step instructions and contact information for key personnel.