IT disaster recovery plan template

Should a systems malfunction or information security incident strike, the onus is on the management of any organisation to recover business critical data and processes as quickly as possible, with minimum disruption and at the lowest possible cost. This calls for prudent disaster recovery planning.

Datashare Solutions has put together a simple IT disaster recovery planning template geared at making the process less daunting and easier to understand. Professional advice regarding any aspect of IT disaster recovery planning and business continuity processes is of course only a phone call away. Please contact a member of our dedicated to team to find out how to cost-effectively safeguard your business critical data.

Disaster recovery plan template

Starting Out

• The development, maintenance and testing of a disaster recovery plan must be given due time and resources for it to be worthwhile. Remember IT data can be jeopardised at any time.
• Your disaster recovery plan needs to be a component of an overall business continuity plan. It should be taken seriously and have the approval and co-operation from senior level down.

Impact assessment

• A comprehensive list of all potentially serious IT incidents that could affect normal business operations should be compiled. Include even the least likely of threats.
• Attribute a probability rating to each item listed. Then rate each item for potential impact severity. This will help you shape the plan within the parameters of your business' real requirements.

Plan development

• Following assessment, your plan can be structured. It should contain markers to take your enterprise from disruption back to normal business activity.
• The first marker should be the process that handles the immediate aftermath of a crisis.
• Establish which business critical systems should be resumed and the appropriate order for them to be reinstated.
• Identify members of staff and provide adequate training for them to be au fait with their responsibilities under the IT disaster recovery plan.

Plan testing

• Any disaster recovery plan needs to be robustly tested. This process must be planned and any testing conducted within an environment that replicates disaster conditions as accurately as is viable.
• Your disaster recovery plan should be tested by key personnel who would be involved should real disaster strike.
• Document test procedures and record their respective results to help you see where improvements may be made.
• Staff feedback will be invaluable - enabling you to fine tune the assignment of tasks and responsibilities.

Plan maintenance

• Your disaster recovery plan should always reflect your current business objectives; therefore it should be updated (at least annually).
• Assign a member of staff to be responsible for maintaining the plan.
• Updates to the plan should be tested appropriately and staff kept up to speed with any additions to their remits regarding disaster recovery procedures.

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Did you know...?

Less than 50% of organisations have a disaster recovery plan

43% of companies with a business continuity plan do not test it annually

40% of companies with crisis management plans do not have a team dedicated to disaster recovery

Source: London Chamber of Commerce

Don't risk IT

For advice on IT disaster recovery planning and details about our Cerberus managed services, please contact Datashare Solutions today.