# Include bare-metal backups in the forest-recovery evidence set > Use AD Forest Recovery - Backing up a full server to review this narrow operational decision without extending the source beyond its stated scope. - Canonical URL: https://update.dsesecurity.com/updates/include-bare-metal-backups-in-forest-recovery-evidence/ - Publisher: Detection Systems & Engineering (DSE Security) - Author: DSE Security Editorial Team - Published: 2026-08-27T12:14:30+00:00 - Modified: 2026-08-27T12:58:58+00:00 - Last reviewed by DSE: 2026-08-26 - Resource type: Briefing - DSE priority: Advisory - Topics: Business Continuity, IT, Microsoft 365 & Identity - Reading time: 3 minutes ## What you need to know Use AD Forest Recovery - Backing up a full server to review this narrow operational decision without extending the source beyond its stated scope. ## Potentially affected Teams, systems, services, or facilities within the stated scope of AD Forest Recovery - Backing up a full server ## DSE recommendation Compare the observed state with the cited official source, document applicability and exceptions, and test any approved change with rollback safeguards. ## Article Use this document to resolve one bounded operational decision: Include bare-metal backups in the forest-recovery evidence set. Only the official source and traced locations below supply facts. Confirm applicability before acting. ## Source fact: The official [AD Forest Recovery – Backing up a full server](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/identity/ad-ds/manage/forest-recovery-guide/ad-forest-recovery-backing-up-a-full-server) from Microsoft supports the following bounded statements: - Microsoft recommends bare-metal recovery backup preparation for forest recovery. The research record locates this support at Opening overview. - A BMR backup can be restored to different hardware or a different operating-system instance. The research record locates this support at Opening overview. The source support ends with the statements listed above. Use them to examine forest recovery plans, trusted backups, isolated recovery networks, controller rebuild order, credential resets, and validation steps in the applicable environment, not to imply a wider guarantee. ## What the source does not establish Confirm backup-solution support and perform an isolated full-server restore test. Do not read the source as proof of implementation or permission to change production. Its guidance remains conditional on offline credentials, Windows DNS, time, virtualization, storage, PKI, network isolation, and authorized recovery personnel and the environment’s recorded constraints. ## Applicability questions - For source statement 1 at Opening overview, which observable configuration, record, or test can confirm applicability here? - For source statement 2 at Opening overview, which observable configuration, record, or test can confirm applicability here? - What inventory proves which parts of forest recovery plans, trusted backups, isolated recovery networks, controller rebuild order, credential resets, and validation steps are in and out of scope? - Which condition in offline credentials, Windows DNS, time, virtualization, storage, PKI, network isolation, and authorized recovery personnel must be healthy before evidence is trustworthy? - What result would disprove the working assumption and return the issue to the owner? ## DSE recommendation: DSE recommends using the cited source as the evidence anchor for this decision. Make the source, asset scope, owner, and expected outcome explicit in the review record. Record the source location, examined part of forest recovery plans, trusted backups, isolated recovery networks, controller rebuild order, credential resets, and validation steps, observed and expected states, owner, and reason for deviation. An implementation decision needs an owner, approved window, prechecks, observable outcome, stop authority, and rollback path. Validate offline credentials, Windows DNS, time, virtualization, storage, PKI, network isolation, and authorized recovery personnel before and after the test, and store only sanitized operational evidence. ## Verification and evidence Tie each conclusion back to Opening overview; Opening overview and to observable material such as backup manifests, restore logs, isolation proof, recovery timing, role-transfer records, DNS validation, and exercise findings. Preserve provenance and stable identifiers without copying secrets into the evidence set. Preserve both successful and failed observations, along with approval and rollback evidence. Avoid uncontrolled production experiments. Assign an expiry or event-driven recheck so the conclusion is not treated as permanent. ## Official references - [AD Forest Recovery – Backing up a full server](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/identity/ad-ds/manage/forest-recovery-guide/ad-forest-recovery-backing-up-a-full-server) — Microsoft ## Primary reference - Name: AD Forest Recovery - Backing up a full server - Authority: Microsoft Learn - URL: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/identity/ad-ds/manage/forest-recovery-guide/ad-forest-recovery-backing-up-a-full-server - Source publication date: 2023-06-21 ## Citation and use Preferred citation: “Include bare-metal backups in the forest-recovery evidence set,” DSE Security, https://update.dsesecurity.com/updates/include-bare-metal-backups-in-forest-recovery-evidence/ Publishing principles: https://update.dsesecurity.com/updates/dse-updates-editorial-methodology/ Usage and citation policy: https://update.dsesecurity.com/usage/ Copyright © 2026 Detection Systems & Engineering. 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