Release, verify and recover
Treat deployment as a reversible operational change.
18 minutes
Know the previous working state
Record the release version and any database migration it needs. Verify the new version against explicit checks after deployment. Decide how to restore the prior application and how schema compatibility affects that option.
Practice recovery before you need it
A database restore and an application rollback are different operations. Rehearse with a disposable copy, verify synthetic learning records afterward and document the steps another person would need.