Short answer
FirstNet recommends quarterly DR tests for critical systems and twice-yearly tests for others, with ad-hoc tests after major changes. On FirstNet Managed DR, quarterly test restores from replicas are included by default.
In detail
What a sensible testing programme looks like:
- Tier your applications so the most critical systems are tested most often
- Use quarterly test restores to prove that replicas and backups can be recovered
- Plan full failover tests, where systems run from the DR site, as separately scoped events with change control
- Retest after major changes, such as new servers, network changes or application upgrades
- Record outcomes and feed lessons learned back into the runbook and architecture
Tests run in isolated recovery environments, so live production is not affected. Each planned test needs agreed scope and success criteria, a test window, available application owners, ready dependencies such as DNS and Active Directory, and an agreed evidence format for auditors or management.
On Platform-Only DRaaS your team owns test planning and execution, while on Managed DR FirstNet runs the scheduled test restores and reports the results. Either way, regular testing is what turns a DR plan into a proven recovery capability.
Source: FirstNet Backup & Disaster Recovery as a Service service page →
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