The 15 Minute Backup Restore Test
Most firms find out their backup doesn't work on the day they need it most. This checklist walks anyone in the office through restoring a real project file, so you know your work is safe and how long getting it back takes.
- Know for sure your project files can come back
- Find a broken backup on a quiet day, not in the middle of a deadline
- Learn how long a restore takes, so you know what a bad day would look like
- Get written proof of a tested restore for your cyber insurance application
- Run it yourself in about 15 minutes, with no IT background
- Works with server, NAS, and cloud backups
Get My Free Checklist
Free 2-page PDF, emailed to you right away. Run your first test this week.
A Simple Test That Tells You If Your Backup Is Real
Pick the Right File
How to choose a test file that matches what you'd really need back, like a live Revit model.
Find the Backup
Where to look for your backup copies and how to tell how recent they are.
Restore to a Safe Spot
How to restore without overwriting the file your team is working on.
Open and Check It
Confirm the file opens, links load, and nothing is missing or corrupted.
Time the Restore
Write down how long it took. That number is your real downtime.
Log the Result
A simple record sheet to show your insurer, your partners, or your IT provider.
Want Us to Run the Test With You?
We're Aspen IT Group, the IT team for architecture, engineering, and construction firms in East Tennessee. We'll test a restore on your system and tell you plainly what we find. No cost, no obligation.