Backup and Recovery: Verified Backup vs. No Backup

Plenty of people set up distributed key architecture and never test whether they could actually get back in if a device died tomorrow. A backup is a separately stored copy of the information required to restore access — most commonly a recovery phrase — kept independently of the primary device.

No Backup

• Single Copy Storage: the recovery information exists in only one place.
• Device-Dependent Access: losing or damaging the device removes all access.
• Untested Recovery: the restore process has never actually been verified.

Verified Backup

• Independent Storage: the recovery phrase is stored separately from the primary device.
• Redundant Copies: more than one location holds the same recovery information.
• Tested Restoration: the recovery process has been verified to actually work.

Backup and recovery is the practical complement to distributed key signing. Distributing signing authority protects against any one device failing; a verified backup protects against storage failing the same way.