Scope and fit
A green backup job is evidence that a task ran, not that a service can be recovered. Restoration tests expose gaps in keys, documentation, and dependency ordering.
Decide what must be recoverable
List application data, configuration, identity mappings, encryption keys, certificates, and infrastructure definitions. Mark dependencies that cannot be restored from the main database backup.
Protect backup access and copies
Restrict write and delete authority, separate backup credentials from production administration, and consider offline or immutable copies. Verify recovery access still works if the primary identity system is unavailable.
Exercise a realistic restore
Restore into an isolated environment, verify data integrity and permissions, then run application workflows. Record elapsed time, manual steps, and gaps against approved recovery targets.
Decisions and tradeoffs
Use this table as a working review record. Replace assumptions with evidence from the target environment.
| Decision area | Working guidance |
|---|---|
| Decide what must be recoverable | List application data, configuration, identity mappings, encryption keys, certificates, and infrastructure definitions. Mark dependencies that cannot be restored from the main database backup. |
| Protect backup access and copies | Restrict write and delete authority, separate backup credentials from production administration, and consider offline or immutable copies. Verify recovery access still works if the primary identity system is unavailable. |
| Exercise a realistic restore | Restore into an isolated environment, verify data integrity and permissions, then run application workflows. Record elapsed time, manual steps, and gaps against approved recovery targets. |
Implementation questions
What should the team decide about decide what must be recoverable?
List application data, configuration, identity mappings, encryption keys, certificates, and infrastructure definitions. Mark dependencies that cannot be restored from the main database backup. Use a named owner and a written acceptance check so this decision can be reviewed after deployment.
What should the team decide about protect backup access and copies?
Restrict write and delete authority, separate backup credentials from production administration, and consider offline or immutable copies. Verify recovery access still works if the primary identity system is unavailable. Use a named owner and a written acceptance check so this decision can be reviewed after deployment.
What should the team decide about exercise a realistic restore?
Restore into an isolated environment, verify data integrity and permissions, then run application workflows. Record elapsed time, manual steps, and gaps against approved recovery targets. Use a named owner and a written acceptance check so this decision can be reviewed after deployment.
Plan, build, verify, operate
Decide what must be recoverable: List application data, configuration, identity mappings, encryption keys, certificates, and infrastructure definitions. Mark dependencies that cannot be restored from the main database backup. Record the result and the next owner before changing the next boundary.
Protect backup access and copies: Restrict write and delete authority, separate backup credentials from production administration, and consider offline or immutable copies. Verify recovery access still works if the primary identity system is unavailable. Record the result and the next owner before changing the next boundary.
Exercise a realistic restore: Restore into an isolated environment, verify data integrity and permissions, then run application workflows. Record elapsed time, manual steps, and gaps against approved recovery targets. Record the result and the next owner before changing the next boundary.
Deployment checks
Turn the page into a reviewable handover by assigning each check to a person and retaining its result.
Test Backups for a Self-Hosted Service, Not Just Backup Jobs: decision 1
Write down the boundary, owner, dependency, and proof required for test backups for a self-hosted service, not just backup jobs before implementation begins.
Test Backups for a Self-Hosted Service, Not Just Backup Jobs: decision 2
Write down the boundary, owner, dependency, and proof required for test backups for a self-hosted service, not just backup jobs before implementation begins.
Test Backups for a Self-Hosted Service, Not Just Backup Jobs: decision 3
Write down the boundary, owner, dependency, and proof required for test backups for a self-hosted service, not just backup jobs before implementation begins.
Handover and ownership
Before handover, name the system owner, support path, access boundary, backup or recovery responsibility, and the condition that pauses a change.
Keep a short record of what was tested, what remains outside scope, and when the review should happen again.
