Case Study: Disaster Recovery Test Restore from Cloud Backups to Azure Using Veeam
Client Overview
A mid-sized retail enterprise running a hybrid IT infrastructure depends on critical workloads for its warehouse operations. To safeguard business continuity, the company uses Veeam Backup & Replication, storing backups both on-premises (for performance) and in Azure storage (for offsite disaster recovery and capacity management).
Objectives
The organisation aimed to validate its disaster recovery (DR) strategy by performing a full-scale test restore from cloud backups to Azure. The key goals were to:
- Validate resilience of their overall IT disaster recovery strategy.
- Assess Recovery Time Objectives (RTOs) and Recovery Point Objectives (RPOs).
- Ensure compliance with business continuity requirements.
Challenges
The DR test needed to address several challenges:
- Minimising downtime while restoring critical applications.
- Ensuring backup integrity and data consistency.
- Testing network connectivity and application dependencies post-recovery.
- Meeting industry compliance requirements for disaster recovery.
Our Solution
As a Veeam partner, Cyberdan recommended and implemented Veeam Backup & Replication for backup and disaster recovery. Using this solution, we conducted a DR test to restore virtual machines (VMs) and services to Microsoft Azure, ensuring seamless failover and continuity.
How We Delivered the Disaster Recovery Test
1. Preparation:
- Reviewed existing DR documentation and identified business-critical systems.
- Verified cloud backup copies were accessible for recovery.
- Configured Veeam Direct Restore to Azure, including cloud integration and licensing checks.
- Set up Azure networking (virtual networks, subnets, firewall rules) to securely host restored workloads.
- Adjusted Azure IAM roles and permissions for secure recovery access.
2. Initiating Restore:
- Selected and validated latest cloud backups for critical workloads.
- Used Veeam’s Direct Restore to Azure feature to optimise VM configuration and cost.
- Monitored data transfer speeds to balance performance and cost.
- Ensured restored VMs were correctly provisioned and assigned to Azure resource groups.
3. Validation & Testing
- Verified restored VMs for integrity and operational readiness.
- Performed application-level testing (databases, authentication, third-party integrations).
- Simulated real-world user scenarios for business continuity validation.
- Measured RTO and RPO against business requirements.
- Reviewed logs from Veeam and Azure to identify potential optimisations.
4. Results & Findings:
- Successful restore: All critical systems restored within the defined RTO.
- Data integrity maintained: No data loss or corruption observed.
- Improved configurations: Identified and resolved networking misconfigurations (firewall rules, DNS delays).
- Refined policies: Updated DR documentation, enhanced cyber security, and optimised configurations for future restores.
Key Takeaways:
- Cloud-based backups with Veeam enable fast and reliable restores to Azure.
- Regular DR testing helps uncover issues before real incidents occur.
- Robust networking and security are vital for seamless cloud recovery.
- Continuous improvement ensures long-term resilience and compliance.
Wrapping Up
This disaster recovery test proved the strength of the organisation’s cloud backup and restore strategy. By restoring workloads to Azure using Veeam, the company confirmed that critical business operations can continue even during unexpected disruptions.
With proactive testing and ongoing refinements, the organisation is now better prepared for real-world disaster recovery scenarios ensuring resilience, compliance, and business continuity.
👉 Looking to strengthen your disaster recovery strategy? Contact Cyberdan today for expert support in Veeam, Azure, and cloud-based disaster recovery solutions.
