# Production Readiness Checklist

By Tanuj Garg · https://tanujgarg.com · Based on: https://tanujgarg.com/blog/production-readiness-checklist-before-launch

Use before a launch, a big customer onboarding or a funding push. Ideally run by someone who did not build the system, with the builder present to demonstrate.

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**Scoring:** G = green (seen working), A = amber (partial or untested), R = red (missing). Reds in 1 to 4 block launch.

1. Reliability  [ G / A / R ]
   - Written answer to "what if the main server or database disappears" with a recovery time
   - Tried at least once
2. Monitoring and alerting  [ G / A / R ]
   - Errors, speed and uptime visible on one screen
   - Test alert reached a named person within 5 minutes
3. Backups and tested restore  [ G / A / R ]
   - Automatic backups, copy held separately from live data
   - Restore tested in the last 3 months, time recorded
4. Security basics  [ G / A / R ]
   - Two-factor on all admin accounts
   - No secrets in code
   - Database not open to the internet
   - Leaver access removed same day
5. Deploy and rollback  [ G / A / R ]
   - Deploy takes minutes and is repeatable by two people
   - Rollback practised
6. Cost guardrails  [ G / A / R ]
   - Budget alert set
   - Top three costs explained
   - Caps on paid third-party usage
7. Ownership and runbooks  [ G / A / R ]
   - Named on-call and backup
   - One-page runbook for the top three failures
   - Company owns cloud, code, domain and vendor accounts
8. Load expectations  [ G / A / R ]
   - Peak number written down
   - Tested at 2 to 3 times that peak, weak spot understood

Date run: ______  Run by: ______  Owner of each amber: ______  Fix-by date: ______

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