Summary

Backing up an Exchange server is more than just putting in a tape every night and storing the tapes, but rather should follow very methodical processes. If a data restoral becomes necessary, the administrator of the messaging system wants to ensure that the information on the tape has been properly backed up and that the recovery goes as expected. The successful backup and restoral of key information is rarely successful by accident or by chance, and requires planning, testing, and documentation.

Additionally, a backup of a system is not satisfied solely by a full image backup of a server. Although a full image backup provides an organization the ability to restore from a complete disaster, it does not address the ability of the organization to restore portions of an Exchange environment, such as a specific message, folder, or mailbox. A full backup of an Exchange server also does not necessarily back up support functions of a fully operational Exchange environment, which includes the directory in Active Directory, certificates for secured Exchange access, or Web services needed to complete the operational restoral of a server.

Because a successful restoral is so important to an organization after a system failure, take steps to ensure that a server restore will be successful.