Most businesses have backup systems (data, customer information, files, financial records) but never test them. Untested backups frequently fail when needed — wrong files backed up, corruption, expired credentials, missing access. Quarterly testing reveals failures before crisis.
What to test
Restore data from backup to test environment. Confirm all critical systems can be recreated. Check credentials and access still work. Verify backup retention policies match business needs. Test disaster recovery for major systems.
How often
Quarterly for critical systems. Annually for full disaster recovery rehearsal. After any major system change.
Most businesses discover their backups don't work in the moment they need them. The 2-hour quarterly test prevents the existential crisis.