Key Considerations In Building A Disaster Recovery Business Resumption Plan
Just like the insurance industry following a risk management approach should be your approach to business continuity plan. A disaster recovery business resumption plan requires having several controls in place. Before developing a plan, you must be able to define the needs and the available resources of your organization in case of emergency.
Here are some controls you should have in place:
1 - Your alternate facility should mirror of your business in terms of operation. Duplicity is key in this case.
2 - Identify the areas that require no testing and the areas that require further testing to assure that the learning curve and adjustment by personnel to any new protocol or systems is minimize or none existent. 3 - Analyze and implement your plan. Your testing should consist of on paper strategic analysis and physical inplenmentaion. Every time a physical testing is completed, like a fire drill, the continuity team should meet to review every process and determine what adjustments must be accomplished if any and have the physical plan adjusted and updated and legible enough for the alternates to follow. 4- Have the altenates do a physical testing of the plan on a monthly bases to make sure they are aware of any changes and can address any inconsistencies in the plan. 5- Prepare a guide for all personnel so that everyone is familiar with the plan so assure that it will be followed. 6- Quarterly trips to camps that work on relationship building. These types of camps help subordinates learn about their superiors and how they would be respond under pressure and learn how to trust them. That is critical. In times of disasters, people do not follow people they do not trust even if it is their superior. In a matter of life and death the supervisor must have established trust beforehand or any system no matter how well planned will not succeed. A paper walkthrough should be done for some businesses on a weekly basis where a physical walkthrough are for business should be done on a monthly basis. As your business grows, your needs and demand for the least amount of turnaround time grows, you will need to adjust your plan accordingly. Therefore, the need to review and test your continuity plan often is a must for survival and minimizing your loss if any. Physical testing is just that of a fire drill. You must test the following: 1 - Communications test: What is the chain of communication? What is the mode of communication? Can everyone who requires notification in case of a problem be reached? 2 - Physical testing: the IT systems completely updated to the last second of operation before the disaster occurred? 3 - The transportation and operation: of the off site facility where your business is going to operate from temporarily. All these tests must be tested to assure efficiency and reduce panic and to make sure that your plan works. Of course, it's impossible to put everything about into just one article. But you can't deny that you've just added to your understanding about business continuity planning, and that's time well spent.
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