Enabling restoration of virtual machine when backup contains abnormal portions

A non-transitory computer readable medium (CRM) comprising computer readable program code, which when executed by a computer processor, enables the computer processor to perform a method for efficient backup and recovery of a virtual machine, the method comprising:

• receiving, in connection with a backup operation, a metadata database and a backup image of the virtual machine;
• making a first determination, based on the metadata database, that a portion of the backup image comprises an anomaly;
• rewriting, in response to the first determination, the portion of the backup image to obtain a modified backup image;
• storing rewrite details in the metadata database to obtain a modified metadata database;
• receiving a request to initiate a recovery operation for a host;
• providing the modified backup image and the modified metadata database to the host;
• making a second determination that the modified backup image is not mountable;
• in response to the second determination, creating and attaching a mountable wrapper for the modified backup image;
• mounting, at the host and using the mountable wrapper, the modified backup image;
• and
• performing a recovery operation for the virtual machine on the host using the modified metadata database and the modified backup image.