What step should immediately follow after restarting an application post-patching?

After restarting an application post-patching, the immediate step should be validation testing. This step is crucial because it ensures that the patch applied successfully and that the application is functioning as intended without introducing new issues. Validation testing involves running tests to confirm that the application behaves correctly and that its features are working as specified.

This is an essential quality assurance measure in the patch management process. It helps identify any problems that may have arisen due to the patch, such as compatibility issues or functionality failures, which could impact users or systems relying on the application. By performing validation testing promptly after the patch is applied and the application is restarted, IT staff can address any problems before the application is fully deployed to users.

The other steps, while important in their own contexts, are not the immediate priorities following a restart. For example, backing up application data, documenting changes, and informing the IT staff are all valuable practices for overall system management and operational integrity, but they do not address the critical need to ensure the patched application is functioning properly right after a restart.