One example method includes bringing up a clone application in a validation environment, replaying recorded incoming network traffic to the clone application, obtaining a response of the clone application to the incoming network traffic, comparing the response of the clone application to recorded outgoing network traffic of the production application, and making a validation determination regarding the clone application, based on the comparison of the response of the clone application to recorded outgoing network traffic of the production application. When the clone application is not validated, the example method includes identifying and resolving a problem relating to the clone application.