# Build a backup strategy worksheet

Adapt this planning resource to your environment. Examples are illustrative, not completed checks. Do not record secrets.

- Service / scope:
- Accountable owner:
- Reviewer:
- Environment / version:
- Review date:
- Approval / change reference:
- Next review trigger:

## Inventory recovery needs

- [ ] List business services and their dependencies, not only machines.
- Environment-specific action:
- Expected result / stop condition:
- Observed result and evidence:
- Owner / due date:

## Separate copies and control

- [ ] Map each copy to a failure domain: source storage, backup repository, off-site location and administrative identity.
- Environment-specific action:
- Expected result / stop condition:
- Observed result and evidence:
- Owner / due date:

## Turn the strategy into an operating schedule

| Field | Record for each service | Your record | Owner | Evidence reference | Status / due date |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Owner and service | Named business owner and application scope |  |  |  |  |
| Recovery targets | Approved RPO and RTO |  |  |  |  |
| Copies and isolation | Locations, credentials, immutability conditions |  |  |  |  |
| Verification | Last accepted restore, evidence and next due date |  |  |  |  |
| Exceptions | Unprotected data, approver and remediation date |  |  |  |  |

## Review changes before they create gaps

- [ ] Revisit coverage when servers, tenants, repositories or licences change.
- Environment-specific action:
- Expected result / stop condition:
- Observed result and evidence:
- Owner / due date:

## Closure

- Outcome: not started / pass / partial pass / fail
- Exceptions, owner and due date:
- Acceptance / approval:
- Follow-up and cleanup:

Source article: https://happysysadm.com/backup-recovery/backup-strategy-checklist/