Glossary Updates12 new terms added to the glossaries · October 2, 2026, 22:44 CEST
AI TechDocKnowledge

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.

By knowledge.aitechdoc.world · Published September 26, 2026 · Last reviewed

Source: AI TechDoc Knowledge editorial definition, based on industrial cybersecurity and maintenance practice

Definitions follow the cited standards and specifications. Where a source is a copyrighted publication, such as an ISO, IEC or EN standard, the definition is a close paraphrase, not a verbatim quotation, so as not to infringe copyright. We recommend reading the original publication. The sections “How it applies” are editorial commentary by AI TechDoc Knowledge and are not part of any standard.

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