What is a BEST practice to perform before running updates on servers?

The most appropriate practice to undertake before running updates on servers is to have a complete backup of the server. This ensures that, in the event of any complications during the update process—such as software incompatibilities, system failures, or other unforeseen issues—the server can be restored to its previous state without loss of data or functionality.

Maintaining a complete backup acts as an insurance policy, allowing administrators to revert to a known good configuration if needed. This is particularly crucial for critical systems, where downtime or data loss can have significant repercussions for the organization.

While running a performance baseline can certainly be useful for understanding how server performance might change following updates, it does not directly address the risks involved with the update process itself. Updating the BIOS firmware is a specialized task that typically occurs less frequently and is not a standard step associated with server updates. Restarting the servers can be necessary after updates but does not mitigate the risks posed by the updates themselves. Therefore, having a complete backup stands out as best practice in validating readiness for server updates.