What is the best way to test the recovery process for a DBMS?

1 Define the objectives

The first step is to define the objectives of your test. What are you trying to achieve? What are the scenarios that you want to simulate? How will you measure the success of your test? For example, you may want to test how quickly you can recover from a disk crash, or how well you can handle a ransomware attack, or how much data you can salvage from a corrupted backup. You should also define the scope and frequency of your test, and the resources and tools that you will need.

2 Prepare the environment

The second step is to prepare the environment for your test. You should never test the recovery process on your production system, as this may cause irreversible damage or downtime. Instead, you should create a separate test environment that mimics your production system as closely as possible. You should also backup your production data and store it in a secure location, in case something goes wrong during the test. You should also document your current recovery plan and procedures, and review them for any gaps or errors.

3 Execute the test

The third step is to execute the test according to your objectives and plan. You should simulate the disaster scenario that you want to test, such as deleting or corrupting some files, or infecting your system with malware, or unplugging your power supply. Then, you should follow your recovery plan and procedures, and use the tools and resources that you have prepared. You should record the steps and results of your test, and note any issues or challenges that you encounter.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?