Backup Test Record
Purpose
Use this record whenever the company tests restoration from backup.
A successful backup job does not prove the company can recover. Restore testing provides evidence that the backup is usable and that the recovery procedure works.
Test Information
Test ID: ____________________
Test date: ____________________
System or data tested: ____________________
Business owner: ____________________
Backup owner: ____________________
Tester: ____________________
Backup Information
Backup platform: ____________________
Backup date used: ____________________
Backup location: ____________________
Backup type:
- Full
- Incremental
- Snapshot
- SaaS backup
- Database backup
- Image backup
- Other: ____________________
Test Objective
What is being tested?
- File restoration
- Folder restoration
- Database restoration
- Server restoration
- Application restoration
- Virtual machine restoration
- SaaS data restoration
- Full recovery process
- Other: ____________________
Restoration Target
Where was the restore performed?
- Original environment
- Test environment
- Isolated recovery environment
- Alternate device
- Other: ____________________
Test Results
Backup located successfully:
- Yes / No
Restore started successfully:
- Yes / No
Restore completed:
- Yes / No
Data opened or functioned correctly:
- Yes / No
Permissions restored correctly:
- Yes / No / Not Applicable
Application functioned:
- Yes / No / Not Applicable
Security controls active:
- Yes / No / Not Applicable
Backup or monitoring resumed:
- Yes / No / Not Applicable
Recovery Time
Expected recovery time: ____________________
Actual recovery time: ____________________
Acceptable:
- Yes / No
Problems Found
Examples:
- Missing files
- Corrupted backup
- Restore too slow
- Missing credentials
- Incomplete documentation
- Required administrator unavailable
- Dependency missing
- Backup older than expected
- Incorrect permissions
Corrective Actions
Action: ____________________
Owner: ____________________
Priority: ____________________
Due date: ____________________
Status: ____________________
Evidence
Evidence may include:
- Screenshots
- Restore logs
- Test files
- Application validation
- Ticket records
- Monitoring records
- Evidence location: ____________________
Result
Test result:
- Pass
- Pass with issues
- Fail
- Retest required
- Approved by: ____________________
- Next test date: ____________________
Practical Rule
Do not record “backup tested” unless something was actually restored and checked.