Test it with an actual bucket of water
Pour several gallons of water into the sump pit and watch what happens. The pump should kick on automatically, move the water out, and shut off cleanly once the pit is empty. If it hesitates, struggles, or doesn't trigger at all, that's worth addressing before you actually need it.
Check the discharge line outside
Follow the discharge pipe to where it exits your home and make sure the outlet isn't blocked by leaves, dirt, or ice in colder months. A clogged discharge line can send water right back toward your foundation instead of away from it.
Consider a battery backup
Storms that are bad enough to need a sump pump are often the same storms that knock out power. A battery backup system keeps the pump running during an outage, which is exactly when you need it most.
Know your pump's age
Most sump pumps last 7-10 years under normal use. If yours is older than that, or you're not sure how old it is, it's worth having a professional check its condition rather than waiting to find out during the next storm.
Clear the pit of debris
Small debris and sediment can collect in the sump pit over time and interfere with the float switch that tells the pump when to turn on. A quick visual check and clean-out now prevents a switch that silently fails later.
If your test didn't go well, or you don't have a sump pump in a basement that could use one, now — before the next storm — is the better time to fix it than during one.