Automation for Testing the Quality of Database Backups

The testing of SQL backup restores is a critical task for the Database Administrator and the backups are only ever as good as the last backup that was tested. A standard process for this could look like

• Recovery of backup files from storage media
• Restoration of the database backup
• Checking the integrity of the backup using DBCC CHECKDB 
• Inspect the output for corruption.

Some useful articles to help automate this process are;

Backup Verification, Statistical Sampling, And You
http://shaunjstuart.com/archive/2011/09/backup-verification-statistical-sampling-and-you/

Statistical Sampling for Verifying Database Backups
https://www.simple-talk.com/content/article.aspx?article=1028

Sample size calculator
http://www.raosoft.com/samplesize.html

To completely automate a backup testing routine that scales as the database population varies is an excellent addition to your toolbox.