Of course you make backups…
You make regular backups as your data is important. You are diligent and have at least two different forms of external media, such as a thumb drive and a 1TB external HDD which you alternate. Everything seems fine.
But, is your backup good enough?
As a guide, the checklist contains questions you can ask yourself. Imagine the shock and disappointment when you need to recover data from such a backup and you find that the contents is lacking…
When was the last time that you verified your backup?
What does it mean to verify a backup? It is suggested that the following, at least, is a framework for verifying a backup.
First, it is not necessary to verify every single data set made. Rather, use a periodic check to ensure that the data backed up is indeed what is expected.
Secondly, start with the source data. What do we consider important and worth backing up? A highly focused approach is recommended for business data. Rather than ‘let’s backup everything…!‘, identify the data that we really need, and back that up. The risk of an unfocused backup is that it will contain everything except that which you really need!
Thirdly, decide on the method and media most suitable to make a backup. See the Rainbow backup post in this regard. Make sure that the type of backup media meets the requirements of the actual data to be backed up.
Fourthly, periodically check the actual backups made. How should this be done. If at all possible, attempt a full data recovery in a simulated environment. What does this mean? Try to recover your data to a computer similar to the one you normally use. Not the same, as this may (a) destroy valuable current data or (b) not reveal gaps in the backup. Assume the source data is no longer available: is it possible to use the recovered data? If the answer is ‘No’ it means that the verification has failed and the process should start again from the top.
Simulated Disaster Recovery may be the single most appropriate data backup verification method. The downside? Costs, and time required.
However, being caught without a viable backup may lead to catastrophic business failure!