Section: Volume D

To require users to follow the status values as they are on the path and prevent them from reverting back to previous status values, the administrator should use validation rules that check if the status field value is changed from one value to another value that is not allowed by business logic. For example, if status values are New > In Progress > Closed, then a validation rule can check if status is changed from Closed to In Progress or New, and show an error message if true. Predefined Field Values, Global Value Picklists, and Dependent Picklists are not able to enforce status progression or prevent status reversion. References:
https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sf.validation_rules_overview.htm&type=5