
What Is a Disaster Recovery Plan?

A disaster recovery plan (DRP) is a comprehensive strategy designed to minimise the impact of a disruptive event or disaster on an organisation’s operations and enable a quick and efficient recovery. It is a proactive approach that aims to ensure business continuity and safeguard critical systems, data, and resources in the event of a natural or man-made disaster.
The primary goal of a disaster recovery plan is to provide guidelines and procedures for responding to and recovering from various types of disasters, such as fires, floods, earthquakes, power outages, cyber-attacks, or hardware failures. By having a well-defined plan in place, organisations can minimise downtime, reduce financial losses, maintain customer trust, and resume normal operations as swiftly as possible.
Disaster Recovery Plan Examples
Each of these examples is also a template you can use to develop a disaster recovery plan for your organisation.
IBM’s Disaster Recovery Plan Template
Created by: IBM
Pages: 13
Main sections:
- Major goals of a disaster recovery plan
- Personnel
- Application profile
- Inventory profile
- Information services backup procedures
- Disaster recovery procedures
- Recovery plan for mobile site
- Recovery plan for hot site
- Restoring the entire system
- Rebuilding process
- Testing the disaster recovery plan
The Council on Foundations Disaster Recovery Plan Template
Created by: The Council on Foundations
Pages: 59
Main sections:
- Risks and Event Scenarios
- Plan Activation
- Responsibility and Delegation of Authority
- Incident Response Team (IRT)
- Incident Response Team Roles & Responsibilities
- Business Impact Analysis
- Recovery Activity Summary and Needs Assessment
- Vital Records
- Disaster Notification/Communications
- Personnel & Board Contact Information
- Building Evacuation
- Emergency Operations Center
- Business Recovery Locations
- Information Technology/Operations Preparedness
Evolve IP DR Plan Template
Created by: Evolve IP
Pages: 17
Main sections:
- Emergency Contact Form
- External Contacts
- Notification Network
- DR Teams & Responsibilities
- DR Lead
- Disaster Management Team
- Network Team
- Server Team
- Applications Team
- Data & Backups
- Restoring IT Functionality
- IT Systems
- Network Equipment
- Severity One System
- Plan Testing & Maintenance
- Recovery Completion Form
Micro Focus DR Plan Template
Created by: Micro Focus
Pages: 36
Main sections:
- Objectives
- Key Personnel Contact Info
- Plan Overview
- Emergency
- Media
- Insurance
- Financial and Legal Issues
- Technology Disaster Recovery Plan
- Suggested Forms
Things You Must Include in Your Disaster Recovery Plan Checklist
A business continuity plan (BCP) checklist is a comprehensive document that outlines the steps and actions required to ensure the continuity of business operations during unforeseen events or disasters.
It serves as a guide for organisations to assess their preparedness and take proactive measures to mitigate risks and minimise potential disruptions.
- Business Impact Analysis (BIA),
- Risk Assessment and Risk Management,
- Emergency Response and Incident Management,
- Business Continuity Strategies,
- Crisis Communication,
- IT Disaster Recovery,
- Training and Awareness,
- Review and Maintenance.
Learn more in details about Disaster Recovery Plan Checklist.
Communication Plan for Disaster Events
In the event of a disaster, it is crucial for a company to have a well-defined communication plan to effectively deliver important information to the following parties:
- Management
- Employees
- Vendors and suppliers
- Customers
- Compliance authorities
- The media
The communication plan should encompass various elements, including public relations (PR), communication through the company’s websites, and engagement on social media platforms. Establishing clear channels of communication with stakeholders regarding the event is vital, as it helps reassure customers and other stakeholders, increasing the likelihood of maintaining their relationship with the company.
Learn more in details about Communication Plan for Disaster Events
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