A green backup log doesn’t mean you can restore.
Plenty of people discover that too late.
Monitoring backups means testing the only part that matters: recovery.
Don’t Trust Success Flags Alone
Backup jobs fail silently:
- Scripts exit 0 but copy nothing
- Encryption keys lost
- Corrupted archives from bit rot or bad media
Assume nothing works until proven.
Build Restore Tests
You don’t need a full DR drill every week:
- Periodically restore a random file or directory to a temp location
- Verify checksums against the source
- Rotate what you test over time
Even a small restore test catches major issues.
Automate and Alert
Write scripts that:
- Pick files at random
- Restore and compare hashes
- Log results and alert on mismatch
Low overhead, high confidence.
Validate Dependencies
Restores often fail because:
- Tools aren’t installed on the target
- Paths changed since the backup was scripted
- Credentials expired
Document restore steps and keep them current.
Make Testing Routine
Set a schedule:
- Full restore drill annually
- Partial restore tests monthly
- Spot checks after major config changes
Backups are only as good as their restores.
Build confidence before you need it.