13. After creating a backup set, an engineer stores the backups according to company policy. Which action should the engineer take periodically to ensure the backed-up data is viable?
Answer: C
The engineer should test the backups according to company policy.
To ensure the backed-up data is viable, the engineer should periodically test the backups in accordance with company policy. This action verifies that the backups can be successfully restored and are functioning as intended.
A) The engineer should replace the old backups with newer ones.
Replacing old backups with newer ones does not guarantee that the backups are viable or usable when needed. Simply updating the backup set without testing does not ensure that the data can be restored correctly, which is critical for data integrity and availability.
B) The engineer should compare the old backups with newer ones.
While comparing old backups with newer ones may provide some insights into data changes, it does not confirm the actual viability of the backups. This action does not test the restoration process or the integrity of the backup data, which are essential for ensuring that the backups are reliable.
C) The engineer should test the backups according to company policy.
Testing backups according to company policy is the most effective way to ensure that the data is viable. This process typically involves restoring data from the backup to verify that it can be recovered successfully, ensuring that the backups are both complete and functional.
D) The engineer should delete backups according to company policy.
Deleting backups may be necessary for data management, but it does not support the goal of ensuring that the backed-up data is viable. This action could lead to the loss of critical data if performed without confirming that the remaining backups are functional and reliable.
Conclusion
Testing the backups according to company policy is essential for verifying the viability of backed-up data, making it the correct choice. Other options, such as replacing, comparing, or deleting backups, do not address the need to confirm that data can be restored successfully, which is a fundamental aspect of effective data management. Thus, option C stands out as the most appropriate action for maintaining data integrity.