Disaster-Recovery Checklist - 21 Mar 2007

Step 1: Create a Disaster Recovery Plan (DRP) Planning Team ?Choose team members who have decision-making approval and sufficient authority to gather information companywide.

-- Define team members’ responsibilities.

-- Create a clear organizational chart that outlines who is responsible for each aspect of disaster-recovery planning.

Step 2: Evaluate Your Business Processes

Evaluate and rank (in order of importance) all business processes.

-- Define which business processes, technology, systems, and applications must be restored for the business to continue operating.

-- Determine the level of disaster protection you want to achieve.

Step 3: Determine which IT Processes Will Be Incorporated into the DRP

-- Evaluate existing backup and recovery processes.

-- Integrate existing processes into the DRP.

-- Upgrade existing processes as necessary.

Step 4: Implement and Test the DRP

-- Document all duties and responsibilities of people who have disaster recovery roles.

-- Roll out any additional hardware or software needed.

-- Test the DRP by walking through the disaster-recovery process.

-- Based on feedback from the walk-through, modify the DRP to reflect the actual process.

-- Get final management approval before distributing the final DRP documents.

-- Distribute the final DRP documents to all involved parties.

-- Maintain and securely store offsite printed copies of all DRP documentation.

Step 5: Maintain an Ongoing DRP Process

-- Schedule regular DRP team meetings so that different departments can interact and provide ongoing input into keeping the DRP relevant and up-to-date.

-- Carry out regularly scheduled DRP tests.

-- Schedule regular updates to the DRP to accommodate changes to business processes or technology infrastructure.

-- Schedule regular evaluations of technology and workflow and update the DRP accordingly.

-- Assign responsibility for all DRP update and maintenance programs to key people, plus designate a central person or persons who’ll be responsible for cross-checking any changes.