restore-test · shipping · also test restore, test restoration

Restore test

A restore test exercises recovery from backup material and checks whether the recovered data or selected system functions meet defined acceptance criteria.

NIST CP-9(2) describes sampled restoration of selected functions. State the backup and functions actually tested, acceptance checks and environment differences; do not present one successful sample as proof about every retained backup.

Relations

related

backup-verification, backup-manifest, incremental-backup, air-gap-backup, immutability-storage

Advantages

• Exercises selected system functions using recovered backup information. [2]

Limitations

• Evidence is limited to the tested scope and chosen sample. [2]
• File verification alone does not establish successful database operation and correct contents. [1]

Citations

1. PostgreSQL 18: pg_verifybackup, checks and exclusions (accessed 2026-10-13)
2. NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5: CP-9(1), CP-9(2) and CP-10 (accessed 2026-10-13)
3. Hesela: Backup verification is not a restore test (accessed 2026-10-13)

JSON: /data/terms/restore-test.json