Recovery Kit

Overview

A complete kit may include seed or key backups, encrypted files, wallet descriptors, derivation paths, device information, software versions, guardian details, provider escalation contacts, and a step-by-step procedure. Contents vary with the wallet architecture.

Combining everything in one place improves usability but can create a single theft point. Splitting sensitive components improves security only if authorized people can locate and assemble them during an emergency. Outdated instructions or missing passphrases can make an apparently complete kit unusable.

Owners should inventory contents, classify sensitivity, use tamper-aware storage, separate critical secrets where appropriate, and control who knows each location. The kit needs versioning and periodic review after wallet, provider, signer, or policy changes. A controlled restoration test should confirm completeness without exposing production authority.

The scope of Recovery Kit should identify the protected wallet, key, account, service, or business process; the triggering failure; who may declare the incident; which identity and entitlement evidence is required; and the recovery point and recovery time objectives that govern restoration.

A controlled Recovery Kit process moves through detection, containment, claimant verification, approval, restoration, validation, credential or guardian replacement, reconciliation, and closure. For Recovery Kit, emergency access should be time-limited and should not silently weaken the authorization policy used during normal operation.

Evidence for Recovery Kit should preserve incident time, affected identifiers, last known state, claimant and approver checks, backup or share version, actions performed, credentials revoked, assets verified, discrepancies found, and final owner acceptance. For Recovery Kit, sensitive recovery material must not appear in the incident record.