Which procedure is essential for recovering from a database failure?

A rollback plan is crucial for recovering from a database failure because it allows for the restoration of the database to a previous stable state. This process involves reverting the database to a specific point in time prior to the failure, effectively undoing any changes that may have led to the issue. Rollback procedures help to mitigate data loss and corruption by ensuring that only reliable and validated data remains accessible after an incident occurs.

Though utilizing backup tapes from the last week is also a common recovery strategy, it relies on the availability and integrity of those backups, which may not always be recent enough to prevent data loss since any transactions made after the tape was created would be lost. Normalizing the database and regularly reviewing user access, while beneficial in their own rights, do not directly address the immediate need for recovery from a failure. Normalization focuses on the structure of the database for efficiency and reducing redundancy, while reviewing user access pertains to security and management rather than recovery processes.