What you need to know
Backups can be incomplete, encrypted with lost keys, or too old to recover important changes. A restore test checks the full recovery path before an incident happens.
How to apply it
Define recovery point and recovery time goals, automate protected backups, and restore a copy into a separate environment on a schedule. Verify record counts and a few real application workflows.
Common mistake to avoid
Do not store the only backup beside the live database or assume a green backup job means the restore process works.