Create a Disaster Recovery Plan
A Backup Article Contributed by Melissa Larose
Create a Disaster Recovery Plan
A disaster recovery plan requires planning and commitment, two business components that many companies struggle with. Neither should be hesitated upon as operating requirements but they are. It is amazing how many people survive in the business world despite their lack of commitment and planning. But in the face of a disaster, recovery requires commitment and planning. A plan is a survival tool for disaster recovery and a very necessary one at that when you are dealing with the complexity of networks and technology at use today. Without a plan these technical systems can collapse quickly.
Where to Start Creating a Disaster Recovery Plan
The most important part of beginning is commitment. Without the commitment and support of top management no one else will be compelled to commit themselves to the plan. Management should coordinate and be the responsible parties when it comes to ensuring effectiveness of the plan. Plans don't happen on their own and may require time and resources for development to take place. The plan needs to be effective and requires the effort of all personnel in order to deliver disaster recovery in an orderly and efficient manner.
Once management has committed to the process, arrange a disaster recovery plan committee to oversee the development. This committee should include representatives from all aspects of your company departmental structure. These representatives will define the scope of your plan.
Continuing to Develop the Disaster Recovery Plan
The actions taken by the committee should include performing a risk and threat assessment and defining priorities for your operations and all processes. Knowing how your company works and gathers its data and resources is vital to understanding how best to move through disaster recovery. Priorities become the stabilizing force when recovery is at hand. Any confusion about what happens next can cause delays and possibly further disaster to recover from. These priorities become the foundation that you will return to time and again to re-establish your business foothold.
Knowing these risks and priorities can lead you to the areas that will require immediate attention during a disaster. Documenting each department's functions can further identify critical needs. Once the functions have been noted, documenting the processes and procedures each department uses can be accomplished. Labeling each of these with a ranking, such as critical, important, non-essential, can clearly show management where the disaster recovery plan needs to concentrate its muscle.
Research and the Disaster Recovery Plan
Once your priorities, your risks, and your threats have been acknowledged and recorded, you must begin assessing the best way to approach prevention, protection, and resurrection. These are the three keywords for a disaster recovery plan to provide.
Research the best, most up to date, and reasonable ways to provide prevention, protection, and resurrection for your company. Your solutions will not look like anyone else's because your business is unlike any other business.
Testing your final plan, and testing every aspect of it, is vital to its success. Make everyone of your employees aware of the plan and its requirements of them.
