The Importance of Regular Archiving Tests

B.

In order for any archiving system to be deemed useful and compliant, regular tests must be performed to ensure the data can still be recovered and accessible, should it ever be needed, for the duration of the retention requirements.

The aspect of archiving that must be tested regularly for the duration of retention requirements is the recoverability.

Archiving involves preserving data for long-term storage and retrieval, typically for legal or compliance purposes. Retention requirements dictate how long the data must be kept, and it is important to ensure that the data is recoverable during this time period. Recoverability refers to the ability to restore archived data to its original state in the event of data loss, corruption, or other issues.

Regular testing of recoverability ensures that the archived data can be retrieved and restored when needed. This testing should include the validation of backup and restore procedures, as well as the verification of data integrity and consistency. The frequency of testing will depend on the retention requirements and the level of risk associated with data loss or corruption.

In contrast, availability refers to the accessibility of archived data, and is typically not tested as frequently as recoverability. Auditability refers to the ability to track access and modifications to archived data, and may also require regular testing depending on regulatory requirements. Portability refers to the ability to move archived data between different systems or environments, and is not directly related to the recoverability of the data.