Backup Setup & Disaster Recovery
Backup restore test, on site
We have backups but have never actually tried restoring anything.
We have backups but have never actually tried restoring anything.
Backups fail quietly. A job stops after an update, a drive fills up, a folder is excluded, or alerts go to an address nobody reads. The only reliable way to know a backup works is to restore from it. A restore test checks the data is there, opens correctly and can be recovered in a time the business can live with.
What the technician does
- Review the backup jobs, schedule, alerts and retention
- Restore sample files and, where relevant, a whole server
- Report what worked, what failed and what needs changing
Pick a few important files you would miss most - those are the ones worth testing.
About backup restore test
We restore sample files from different dates and locations, and for servers or virtual machines we test a full restore to a separate location so production is untouched. We note how long each restore took and whether anything was missing. The report lists what worked, what needs fixing and suggested changes to the backup schedule or retention. Fixes can be made during the same visit if you agree.
What usually causes it
- No record of the last restore test
- Backup alerts not monitored
- Insurance, audit or client questionnaire
- A recent near-miss with deleted or corrupted files
Before we arrive
- A list of the systems and software the business cannot run without
- Admin access to servers, NAS units and Microsoft 365
- Details of any existing backup software or cloud storage account
- Who should receive backup alerts and keep the recovery plan
What a visit looks like
When you book backup restore test, you tell us what's going on and we reply with a time that suits you and a price. Nothing starts until you're happy with both.
On the day, the technician arrives, looks at the problem in person and confirms the plan with you before starting. If something turns out different from what was expected - a part is needed, or the cause is somewhere else - we stop and agree the change with you first.
When the work is done we test it with you, show you what was changed, and leave the area tidy. For business jobs we note what we did, so there is a record for whoever looks after your IT next.
Pricing
Each backup restore test job is priced before work starts. The price depends on what's involved - the size of the site, the equipment, and whether parts are needed - so the quickest way to a number is to tell us about the job on the booking form.
There is no contract and no monthly fee. You book the job you need and pay for that job.
Backup restore test: questions
Will a restore test affect our live data?
No. We restore to a separate folder or test machine, so live files and servers are not overwritten. A single successful file restore is a good start, but a whole-system restore is the real test of a server backup.
How often should restores be tested?
Regularly, and after any major change to servers, storage or backup software. We can set up a simple checklist so your team can repeat basic file restores.
Do you do backup restore test on site?
Yes. We come to businesses and homes across Auckland and Hamilton and do the work where the equipment is.
How much does backup restore test cost?
It depends on what's involved. Tell us about the job on the form and we'll confirm the price before any work starts.