Which of the following must be done to properly conduct testing of the data backup portion of a disaster recovery plan?

Restoring backed up data to a test server is essential for thoroughly testing the data backup portion of a disaster recovery plan. This task assesses not only the integrity and accessibility of the backups but also ensures that the data can be effectively recovered and operated within a live environment.

Testing restores on a dedicated test server allows organizations to validate that the backup process is reliable and that the data can be successfully retrieved and utilized when needed. It identifies any potential issues in the recovery process, such as missing files or incompatibility with the current system setup. Additionally, executing a restore in a controlled environment helps teams familiarize themselves with the procedures, ensuring a smoother, more efficient recovery in the event of a real disaster.

While performing integrity tests, verifying read access to backup media, and checking backup logs are important maintenance tasks, they do not encompass the full scope of a successful recovery operation as effectively as an actual restore test does. Only by restoring to a test server can organizations be confident in their disaster recovery plans' efficacy and readiness.