Failover
Automatic switching to a backup system or pathway when the primary fails. Example: if the primary email provider (SendGrid) returns an error, the automation automatically retries via the secondary provider (Postmark) to ensure delivery.
Expert insight
A failover system that has never actually been tested by deliberately failing the primary system is a failover system whose reliability is unknown, not confirmed. Failover logic should be tested on a schedule (a planned failover drill), not left as an untested assumption until the day it's actually needed.
In a real workflow
If the primary email provider fails, transactional emails are sent through a backup provider.
Common mistakes
- Never testing the failover.
- A backup that shares the same failure point.
Complexity level
Technical term used in production automation systems.
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