An organization’s IT systems are constantly being upgraded and altered. These changes influence the ability to successfully carry out a Disaster Recovery Plan. Regular maintenance and testing of a DR plan means that a business won’t be caught off guard in crisis time, or risk failure of the DR recovery.
Author: Steve Tower
With many years of professional IT experience, and training as a Certified Management Consultant, a Project Management Professional, a Professional Engineer and a Member, Business Continuity Institute, Steve Tower has the skills and abilities required to assist with even the most complex disaster recovery planning initiatives. Below, Steve discusses the necessary tools involved in setting up a disaster recovery plan and program.
Elements of the Disaster Recovery Co-ordinator Job Description
Responsible for managing the development of a DR plan, a Disaster Recovery Coordinator (DRC) plays a critical role within an organization as they facilitate the ability to handle a disaster situation.
Approaches for DR Test Oversight
Depending on how extensive an operation’s Disaster Recovery Plan is, it may be beneficial to verify testing success through a third party. Many organizations will already have someone fulfilling the role of a semi-independent, internal Disaster Recovery Coordinator (DRC), but in certain instances a third-party assessment can add value.
The Progressive Levels of DR Testing
Testing a disaster recovery plan is a progressive process. Each level of test becomes increasingly more elaborate and intrusive to the organization, introducing risks, but at the same time solidifying the capabilities of a DR plan. Testing can be performed in a series of levels, each with increasing: Technical scope including systems, recovery technology, communications, etc. Risk of business…
Testing Your DR Plan
Executing a test for disaster recovery is actually a progressive, step-by-step process intended to establish whether an organization’s DR plan will work as expected, in a time of crisis. It involves an extensive amount of pre-planning to guarantee that all components are in place prior to conducting tests. If you have a DR maturity model…