diff --git a/services/backup/src/database.rs b/services/backup/src/database.rs
--- a/services/backup/src/database.rs
+++ b/services/backup/src/database.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
+use aws_sdk_dynamodb::{model::AttributeValue, Error as DynamoDBError};
 use chrono::{DateTime, Utc};
-use std::sync::Arc;
+use std::{
+  fmt::{Display, Formatter},
+  sync::Arc,
+};
 
 #[derive(Clone, Debug)]
 pub struct BackupItem {
@@ -85,5 +89,109 @@
   }
 }
 
-// TODO: Replace this with dedicated DB error
-type Error = anyhow::Error;
+#[derive(
+  Debug, derive_more::Display, derive_more::From, derive_more::Error,
+)]
+pub enum Error {
+  #[display(...)]
+  AwsSdk(DynamoDBError),
+  #[display(...)]
+  Attribute(DBItemError),
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, derive_more::Error, derive_more::Constructor)]
+pub struct DBItemError {
+  attribute_name: &'static str,
+  attribute_value: Option<AttributeValue>,
+  attribute_error: DBItemAttributeError,
+}
+
+impl Display for DBItemError {
+  fn fmt(&self, f: &mut Formatter) -> std::fmt::Result {
+    match &self.attribute_error {
+      DBItemAttributeError::Missing => {
+        write!(f, "Attribute {} is missing", self.attribute_name)
+      }
+      DBItemAttributeError::IncorrectType => write!(
+        f,
+        "Value for attribute {} has incorrect type: {:?}",
+        self.attribute_name, self.attribute_value
+      ),
+      error => write!(
+        f,
+        "Error regarding attribute {} with value {:?}: {}",
+        self.attribute_name, self.attribute_value, error
+      ),
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, derive_more::Display, derive_more::Error)]
+pub enum DBItemAttributeError {
+  #[display(...)]
+  Missing,
+  #[display(...)]
+  IncorrectType,
+  #[display(...)]
+  InvalidTimestamp(chrono::ParseError),
+}
+
+fn parse_string_attribute(
+  attribute_name: &'static str,
+  attribute_value: Option<AttributeValue>,
+) -> Result<String, DBItemError> {
+  match attribute_value {
+    Some(AttributeValue::S(value)) => Ok(value),
+    Some(_) => Err(DBItemError::new(
+      attribute_name,
+      attribute_value,
+      DBItemAttributeError::IncorrectType,
+    )),
+    None => Err(DBItemError::new(
+      attribute_name,
+      attribute_value,
+      DBItemAttributeError::Missing,
+    )),
+  }
+}
+
+fn parse_bool_attribute(
+  attribute_name: &'static str,
+  attribute_value: Option<AttributeValue>,
+) -> Result<bool, DBItemError> {
+  match attribute_value {
+    Some(AttributeValue::Bool(value)) => Ok(value),
+    Some(_) => Err(DBItemError::new(
+      attribute_name,
+      attribute_value,
+      DBItemAttributeError::IncorrectType,
+    )),
+    None => Err(DBItemError::new(
+      attribute_name,
+      attribute_value,
+      DBItemAttributeError::Missing,
+    )),
+  }
+}
+
+fn parse_datetime_attribute(
+  attribute_name: &'static str,
+  attribute_value: Option<AttributeValue>,
+) -> Result<DateTime<Utc>, DBItemError> {
+  if let Some(AttributeValue::S(datetime)) = &attribute_value {
+    // parse() accepts a relaxed RFC3339 string
+    datetime.parse().map_err(|e| {
+      DBItemError::new(
+        attribute_name,
+        attribute_value,
+        DBItemAttributeError::InvalidTimestamp(e),
+      )
+    })
+  } else {
+    Err(DBItemError::new(
+      attribute_name,
+      attribute_value,
+      DBItemAttributeError::Missing,
+    ))
+  }
+}