Define what must be recovered
Start with a scenario: an accidentally deleted message, correspondence from a former employee, or data needed in another environment. Identify accounts, data types and dates before deciding whether a backup covers the requirement.
Agree frequency and retention
Frequency determines when new data is captured; retention determines how long older data remains available. Review storage capacity, deletion rules and operational ownership alongside the schedule.
Validate with a restore exercise
Choose representative data and verify that it can be found, read and delivered in the required form. Record the steps, elapsed time and limitations. A successful scheduled job does not replace a restore exercise.
Questions for a tool evaluation
When evaluating BackupExpert or another tool, confirm the source, connection method, supported data and restore destination. Validate historical recovery points and specific restore methods instead of assuming every scenario is supported.
