Glossary · OT cybersecurity
Backup restore
Also known as: Restore from backup, Restore test
German: Backup und Wiederherstellung
In industrial automation, a backup restore is the act of loading a previously saved backup of a program, configuration or system image back onto a device or system to return it to a known state. A restore test proves that the backup is complete and usable.
- OT security
In one sentence
A backup restore loads a saved program, configuration or system image back onto a device to return it to a known state; restore tests prove backups work.
Example
After a controller failure, the technician installs a spare CPU and restores the last approved project from the backup server, then verifies the program checksum against the configuration baseline.
How it applies
- Commissioning: A first restore test during commissioning confirms that backups contain everything needed, including licenses, firmware dependencies and parameters stored outside the project.
- Maintenance: Restores should be rehearsed on a test system or during planned downtime. Record how long a restore takes, because this defines the realistic recovery time.
- Operation: After a restore, the system must be checked before it returns to production. For safety-related parts, the restored configuration must match the validated one; checksums or signatures help prove this.
- Documentation: Write the restore procedure as a task topic with prerequisites (software versions, credentials, spare parts), steps, and a verification step. Point out where a restore overwrites data such as counters or calibration values.
Backup restore vs. rollback
A restore returns a device to the state saved in a backup, often after a failure. A Rollback capability reverts a recent update or change to the previous version as part of planned change management.