RollbackProcedure

Rollback procedure is a predefined sequence of actions designed to restore a system to a known-good state after a failed change or detected anomaly. It is used in software deployment, database operations, and infrastructure management to limit impact and restore service.

Common forms of rollback include database rollback (undoing transactions or restoring from backups), application rollback (deploying a previous version), and configuration rollback (reverting settings to a baseline). Rollbacks are chosen when changes cause instability, data corruption, or performance degradation. They typically rely on predefined criteria and time windows to minimize risk.

Key elements of a rollback procedure include change control, backups or point-in-time snapshots, rollback scripts or automation, validation tests, and rollback criteria. A rollback plan should specify who initiates it, when it is allowed, what data is recoverable, and how to verify success.

Process steps commonly involve detecting failure, halting deployment, initiating rollback, restoring data and code, reconfiguring as needed, running safety checks and tests, and notifying stakeholders. After rollback, a retrospective documents causes and lessons learned.

Best practices emphasize automating rollback where possible, making rollback steps idempotent, keeping backups tested and accessible, limiting the rollback window, and integrating with change management and disaster recovery plans. Potential risks include incomplete reversal, data loss, data inconsistency, downtime, and dependency issues; rollback is not a substitute for thorough change planning and testing.