SMTP AFRICA SERVERS LTD WOULD YOUR BACKUP RESTORE WHEN YOU NEED IT? Planning checklist [ ] 1. Choose a business service A useful restore test begins with the service the business needs, not just a file. Identify the application, database, identity service and infrastructure it depends on. [ ] 2. Agree the success criteria Define the recovery point, the expected restoration time and the person who will validate the result. These are objectives to test and document, not assumptions to infer from backup frequency alone. [ ] 3. Restore into an appropriate test environment Plan isolation, access and storage capacity before restoring. Avoid connecting duplicate identities or production addresses to the live network. Validate the restored data and application behaviour with the relevant owner. [ ] 4. Record the evidence Capture the backup selected, steps taken, time required, missing dependencies and outcome. Keep the recovery procedure accessible to the people who may need it during an outage. [ ] 5. Fix the gaps and test again Assign owners to failed steps. Revisit the test when workloads, credentials, infrastructure or recovery requirements change. Discuss your requirements: https://smtpafrica.com/services/backup This checklist is a planning aid. Scope and implementation should be agreed for your environment.