How to Perform Backup and Recovery Testing?

The data and applications in an organization is constantly under threat by hostile actors – more now than ever before. Simply stated, adequate levels of safety to a business via backup and restore technology must be tested in order to ensure that such systems will perform when, almost ievitably, they are needed. This article looks closely at the various aspects of data backup – and restore – testing.

What Is a Backup and Recovery Test?

As its name suggests, a backup and recovery test is a test of the ability to recover your IT system’s backed-up data in the event of an attack or loss of data. Essentially, a backup test allows you to confirm that the backup services you’ve chosen are truly able to protect your organization. That is because, in practice, and under duress, some systems have been founnd to fall short.

Whether you’re up against a natural disaster like a flood or fire, or you’ve experienced a cyberattack or system failure, or simply human error, backup and recovery tests are essential to help businesses survive emergencies.

Although potentially complex, backup and recovery testing is a necessity that can be accomplished in several steps.  First, the organization creates  backup, or duplicate, copies of system data. Then, the organization chooses a course of action for data restoration, in the event it is required.

Understanding Backup and Recovery Processes

It is likely that, in  companies of all sizes, not all data is of equal importance to operations. Companies must first assess their systems to determine which data are most important to backup, then select backup tools and strategies. The prioritization of data backup and recovery is a painstaking method of planning ahead for potential data loss scenarios. Some businesses may need full system backups, where no file can be spared. Other businesses may need backups of  only the most recent system changes.

Additionally, backup methods range from local to off-site. Different methods can entail security measures like encryption, as well as employee training to ensure that recovery is carried out properly.

Importance of a Recovery Test

It’s not just about preparing when it comes to recovery tests. The effects of a data breach or loss can seep into all areas of a business, manifesting as accounting issues, lost productivity, failure to comply with regulations, and damaged relationships with customers and potential investors.

Therefore, knowing that your data is truly recoverable in the event of an emergency is paramount. Compliance requirements may also be a reason that testing is mandatory.

Another important point – and this one shouldn’t be overlooked – is that testing ensures that the data you back up is uncorrupted, comprehensive, and completely accurate. Otherwise, you may recover data successfully, but that data might not then be usable.

Testing Backup Restoration: What It Entails

Testing Backup restoration is as important, if not more important, than the backups themselves. Once you restore your data,  you naturally want to be sure that it will be authentic to its original form and function. Some companies do manual restoration testing, which involves moving files to a new location and restoring them, then checking that they haven’t changed and function the same.

These tests tell you whether data will still be usable after it’s been recovered and restored. Restoration testing can look like the following:

• Simulation: Companies simulate the unexpected, – such as physical damage to data storage, software issues, cyberattacks, and more, and then test both that the data are correctly and completely backed up, then that the backed up data is correctly and completely restored to functionality. During testing, the parameters of these data loss situations are predefined.
• Assessing the data: During restoration testing, organizations should confirm that the restored files are identical to the originals. The restored files must be free from corruption, as well, and be formatted, and function,  as before.
• Choosing a strategy: Companies have a number of decisions to make before testing backups and restoration. For example, which files are most important to back up? How often will the files be backed up (i.e. weekly, biweekly, etc.), and where will they be backed up to?
• Keeping track: Restoration testing also requires documentation from start to finish, including the strategies and resources used. Documentation of the organization’s restoration testing should also include observations about the approach and how successful it was, or wasn’t.
• Making sure software works: Finally, and obviously, organizations must test their backup software to make sure it works as it’s designed to.

Finally, consider some common metrics used in data recovery: RTO (Recovery Time Objective), which refers to the desired time to complete data restoration, and RPOand RPO (Recovery Point Objective), which refers to the limit of acceptable data loss. During testing, companies measure outcomes against these metrics to see whether they’re prepared in the event of lost data.

What Are the Variations of Backup Tests?

There are a few variations in these tests, which companies turn to depending on the backup solutions they’re using. The most common three are: (1) disaster recovery testing, (2) full recovery testing, and (3)partial recovery testing.

Disaster Recovery Testing is fairly self-explanatory, referring  to the simulations mentioned before. For example, pretend that a company’s entire data has been lost, as it would be in, say, an earthquake or fire. As the company begins to restore data in the test, it can better understand their preparedness if an actual earthquake or fire happens.

Then, there’s full recovery testing. This is a comprehensive test to gauge the company’s ability to recover everything leading up to a specific point in time.

Finally, partial recovery testing is a way of testing the success of efforts to recover specific data. For example, a company might want to test recovery of a single database or a group of files, rather than recovery of everything at once.

Why Businesses Must Test Their Backup Software

It’s worth noting that backup software isn’t a be-all and end-all solution. Systems can become compromised, even if there’s no software bug, if they aren’t updated for current needs, or if the hardware is unable to read the backed-up data.

When these things happen, businesses can lose money, fail to meet compliance, and face a cascade of other problems.

How Data Loss Impacts a Business

One data loss incident can create a ripple effect of issues within an organization. Time management and task delegation can fall by the wayside when workers must spend time trying to recover, or recover from, the lost data.  In addition,  the business could face lower performance rates, dissatisfied customers, and in turn, a worsened reputation. Regular backup testing can reduce the chances of  failed data restoration. This helps companies to avoid the above-mentioned situations that could impact livelihood. If a backup system fails, data could be compromised, files could be corrupted, and a number of other problems could occur. A backup software test can ensure that these inconsistencies are observed and corrected before an actual data loss situation occurs.

Data Integrity and Compliance

One of the most important reasons to perform testing is to ensure that organizations adhere to the regulations that govern them. To remain trustworthy, businesses must comply with both industry and legal standards.

For example, companies doing business in the European Union (EU) must comply with the GDPRs (General Data Protection Regulation). The GDPR detailing rules for organizations that collect data from residents of countries in the EU. Failure to comply with GDPR requirements can result in heavy fines.

HIPPA (the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) requires US health organizations in the United States to to protect the confidentiality of private health information (PHI) on individuals, ensure that the sharing of PHI between entities is secure, and more.

The CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act) is designed to give consumers more control over their personal data. The Act targets businesses with high annual revenues and which collect and store data on customers.

There are many such laws  and, by testing restoration methods, businesses are taking extra care to not violate them. Furthermore, restoration testing helps businesses to ensure that their data is safe, uncorrupted, and accurate, so that they can continue to be viewed as credible. This is the integrity factor that makes recovery and restoration testing so important.

Creating an Effective Testing Plan

An effective testing plan involves identifying the data that must be backed up, creating a schedule for testing, and choosing tools and strategies for testing. It’s also important to maintain good collaboration and communication within the company and regularly adapt to the company’s changing data needs.

Key Components of a Backup Testing Plan

Communication is a key component of a backup testing plan. Communication requires creating, and maintaining, a chain of command and clearly outlined roles for making decisions about  data recovery in the event of data loss. These procedures are a chance to assure that key employees and managers can access restoration and backup tools when the time comes.

Another key component of a backup testing plan is regularly reviewing backup files  to ensure that backup data hasn’t been damaged or corrupted and that backup logs are error-free.

And, of course, the time it takes to fully back up data should be documented each time data is backed up. Comparing backup times can help to flag and pinpoint problems before they arise.

Identifying What Data to Backup

One way to narrow the data to be backed up is actually to start by reviewing the entirety of the company’s data. Consider how much data there is and how much of that data the company can reasonably afford to store and include in backup and restoration plans. In other words, storing and backing up all of a company’s data is often simply both unaffordable and impractical. Instead, most companies must prioritize files for testing and backup.

Incorporating Backup and Recovery Testing in Disaster Recovery Plans

A business’s disaster recovery plan (DRP) is a documented, step-by-step plan for responding to a disruptive event of any kind. Whether a flood, server crash, ransomware attack, or accidental human error, a DRP is essential.

Moreover, one of the most important parts of the organization’s DRP is its backup and recovery testing strategy. Organizations should prioritize this part of the plan, including the software and systems that will be used and identifying both the individuals involved and their responsibilities. Put simply, the plan should thoroughly explain how to respond if, and when, a disaster occurs.

Setting Up a Regular Testing Schedule

A regular testing schedule will greatly improve the organization’s Disaster Recovery Plan (DRP). The company’s DRP should outline a schedule of regular testing specific to its backup needs. Outside of disaster scenarios, though, the company should be carrying out routine tests on those dates to ensure that everything continues to function as designed.

What Are Best Practices for Testing Backups?

There are some basics to know when testing data backup solutions, such as monitoring for changing needs, updating plans, and keeping records.

Performing Recovery Tests

Recovery tests are necessary for identifying where a DRP falls short. If one of these tests reveals that the recovered data has been corrupted, the organization must either improve its plan or choose a different backup solution.

Using Backup Software Effectively

Organizations must use backup solutions to their advantage. This sometimes requires storing multiple copies in multiple locations.

For example, some businesses rely on a “3-2-1” rule, meaning three separate backup copies kept in two kinds of storage, with one copy kept offsite in another location. This process ensures that the backup software is being used to its full advantage.

Documenting Backup and Recovery Procedures

Documentation of procedures for both backups and recovery of data is extremely important. Without it, companies struggle to respond rapidly and effectively during a “disaster.”

Documentation includes having a detailed disaster recovery plan, documenting the outcomes of testing, and recording the processes and tools selected for restoring data.

Simulating Real-World Scenarios During Backup Testing

As previously mentioned, many things can compromise data in the real-world. When performing tests, the scenarios should be as real-world as possible to produce the most revealing and helpful outcomes from which to learn.

Ensuring Compliance with Industry-Specific Standards

When testing backups, companies should always be thinking about regulatory compliance. After all, compliance is one of the most important reasons for recovery and testing efforts in the first place.

Restored data is technically not usable if it fails to meet industry-specific standards once recovered. Testing matters because testing can detect issues before disaster strikes.

What Tools Can Test A Backup?

There is a plethora of tools that organizations can use to test their systems and preparedness. Some are cloud-based options that provide the backup solutions themselves. Others are software packages designed specifically for disaster recovery services. And among these tools, there are backup software options that are incremental, full-system, and even differential.

Consider the range of options below.

Bacula Enterprises

Bacula Enterprises is an exceptionally secure and safe backup and recovery software solution that provides a variety of functionalities for recovery testing, including automated recovery testing, restoration verification, recovery simulation, customizable recovery workflows, automated reports, granular restoration testing, backup consistency checks, integration with virtual machines, scalability, and self-healing backup verification.

In automated recovery testing, Bacula simulates disaster scenarios and auto-validates backups, using its testing solution to improve efficiency. Bacula’s customizable testing process produces automated reports highlighting issues, anomalies, and data inconsistencies. Bacula’s restoration verification software will not affect live production.

Further, Bacula’s solution supports virtual machine recovery testing (platforms such as VMware and Hyper-V) for data and images. And, if an organization needs granular testing for individual apps or databases, Bacula’s solution can do that, too.

Scalability is also important, and Bacula Enterprises can help with testing in large organizations and systems, including multiple servers and storage locations. Its unusually high levels of security mean it is relied on by the largest defence organization in the West.

Veeam

Veeam serves businesses with software for backups, virtualization management, and disaster recovery.

One of Veeam’s key offerings is Disaster Recovery Testing, which is automated and simulates different scenarios for effect testing. Testing solutions also include Cloud Connect, application-aware processing, file-level restorations for specific verification needs, and replication and failover testing at secondary locations.

The company shares thorough testing reports in the process so that organizations can tailor their strategies accordingly.

Veeam also provides Instant VM recovery (instant restoration of a VM from a backup file directly to production) and SureBackup, its main backup verification solution. SureBackup does data restoration in Virtual Lab — isolated VMware and Hyper-V environments — and checks for data integrity with auto-verification and custom scripts.

Veeam also offers ONE Monitoring and Reporting to monitor the health and integrity of backups. This offering spots errors during testing.

Commvault

A third solution to note is Commvault, as it specializes in data backup and recovery testing in non-production environments, compliance, retention, and cloud and infrastructure management. Commvault is a self-proclaimed “ransomware recovery solution” that promises to help businesses achieve complete file restorations. Comvault is cloud-based and, like Bacula, can integrate its tools with Azure, Amazon S3, and others.

Commvault’s CommServe Automated Testing solution supports auto-recovery verification with periodic backups and simulated recovery efforts. During verification, Commvault performs data integrity checks for virtual machines (VMware and Hyper-V) and can recover instantly.

Commvault’s recovery plans can be customized, depending on an organization’s apps, databases, and other configurations. And in terms of restores, Commvault is useful for granular jobs, including file-level and application-aware applications (i.e. Oracle, SQL, Exchange).

Moreover, Commvault relies on an orchestrator to simulate disaster scenarios during testing. These tests measure RTO and RPO for detailed reports and alert organizations to both successes and failures.

Lastly, Commvault offers BMR (Bare Metal Recovery) Testing, which allows clients to restore systems to outside hardware and virtual locations.

FAQ

What is the difference between a backup test and recovery testing?

A backup test confirms that the backup system works and data can be retrieved. On the other hand, recovery testing is the process of comparing restored data to the original and validating its integrity. In other words, recovery testing ensures that data recovered from the backup system is still usable. The tests are complementary and both should be conducted routinely.

How often should backup restoration testing be performed?

Although somewhat difficult to achieve, companies should try to test backup restoration after each completed backup. Backup restoration testing should be done routinely: monthly, weekly, or perhaps even more often. The frequency of backup restoration testing will depend on the scope and importance of the data being backed up. Companies should do this often to ensure that the recovery method adapts to their current needs.

What challenges might arise during backup and recovery testing?

One challenge to note is that it can sometimes be difficult for companies to determine the specific backup plan that works for best for them. It requires closely examining organization needs, processes, compliance procedures, and more. Additionally, costs can add up, especially as the need for more storage space increases in a growing business. Finally, frequent communication among team members is necessary for successful recovery efforts.

How do backup and recovery testing ensure regulatory compliance?

Different industries must comply with different regulations, whether they’re financial, tax-related, or legal. Because these guidelines may require organizations to back-up data in specific ways, backup and recovery tests are a way to meet those guidelines. This is where it becomes beneficial to mold the business’s testing standards around the nuanced compliance requirements applicable to the company.