Disaster Recovery Plan

Designing a good disaster recovery plan involves considering the following steps:

- Identify risk events (e.g., through the assessment of IT objectives and risk factors) - Assessment of threats and impact (formal risk assessment) - Prevention and reduction of risk - Creation of cost-effective solutions

A good disaster recovery plan will address the following:

- Minimisation of business interruption and assurance of business continuity - Securing alternative internet access modes - Recovery of lost data; - Providing disaster recovery procedures - Training employees for disaster recovery scenarios

Continuity of operations

- Mutual aid pack - Cold site - Hot site

Specifics

- Should be regularly tested - periodic dress rehearsals! - Insurance should be adequate - Communication plan should be in place - All staff should be aware and trained - Plan should be formally documented

Prevention

- fire and smoke detectors; - alarms; - inert gas flooding systems; - plastic equipment covers; - air conditioning; - gas-based fire suppression system; and - adequate insurance coverage.