WHAT TO INCLUDE IN AN

R E C O V E R Y P L A NIT DISASTER

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INVENTORY EVERYTHINGBefore diving into details, inventory everything your network

needs to function: local hardware, software (both on premises and as-a-service) and cloud-based services.

This lets you identify a baseline protection layer.

RECOGNIZE RISKSeek out potential weak points in your infrastructure or holes in

your network and evaluate the potential for IT compromise.

COMMUNICATE COMMON CAUSESTalk to both IT pros and frontline staff to identify common sources of

potential disaster. These might include cyber attacks, natural disasters, and human error related to IT service use or accidental compromise.

MAKE A CONTACT LISTCreate an “in case of emergency” list that contains accurate contact

details for key employees, vendors and stakeholders. Update it regularly.

ASSIGN RESPONSIBILITIESDecide who on your team is responsible for what. One IT pro might

be tasked with determining disaster origins, while another works on migrating backups or restoring key services. You thus limit

overlapping, as well as overlooking entire tasks.

DEFINE PLAN ACTIVATIONWhat happens when the call comes in? Is 24/7 response

expected, and do you need workers present on site, or are you willing to provide remote connection support?

DETAIL EXECUTIONBeyond roles and responsibilities, it’s worth detailing the ideal sequence of events during a disaster. For example, are hot-site

backups the top priority, or do you want IT pros containing the situation on the ground? Things won’t always go according to plan; prioritizing

helps ensure you don’t forget key steps.

TEST, TEST, TESTImprove disaster response before disaster strikes: Test, test, and

then test some more. Run scheduled tests, random tests, and occasionally a fully simulated attack to see what happens.

Recovery teams get used to dealing with the unexpected, and testing helps identify network weaknesses.

LOOK FOR HELPSometimes you can’t do it all. To bridge the gap, many companies

turn to cloud-based disaster recovery services for data backup and recovery solutions that work independently of local servers. This does

not substitute for having an on-site plan, but can increase your chances of meeting recovery time and recovery point objectives.