How to Prepare a Disaster Recovery Plan - Ensure Business Continuity With the Right System in Place

What can you see happening when the S**t hits· Contact details of vendors, support
the Fan? Is everyone going to be running aroundagencies, consultants etc with whom disaster
like headless chickens? Are they going to behandling agreements have been entered into
focused on who's to blame or are they going be· Should clearly state what defines a
focused on getting your business out of troubledisaster situation
because they know exactly what to do.· Plan should address minor as well as
A disaster recovery plan clearly maps out themajor disasters
process of continuing normal business operations· Employee training for skills needed in the
and salvaging vital data/ equipment; it acts as asalvaging and resuming phases during and after
guide on "what to do during and after a disaster"the event
to the various teams in the organization.· List of functions that are critical for
The DRP should ideally be created by a specialbusiness continuity
team dedicated for the purpose - Disaster· Priority of the functions
Recovery Committee. It has members· Contracts/ agreement copies with
representing all the critical departments likedisaster support vendors like salvage/
management, IT, risk management, datareconstruction consultant firms, alternative office
management, security etc. The committee has tosites, equipment vendors and so on
prepare a schedule and deadline for the· Contact details of fire department,
preparation of the plan.police, ambulance etc
Disaster recovery Plan should include -· Floor plan/ blueprint of the building in
· Names, titles and functions of everywhich the organization is functioning
team member who has a role in the disasterBy incorporating the above items and any thing
recovery processmore that might be relevant a complete and
· There has to be a core team with aeffective disaster recovery plan can be brought
head which has the authority to take charge inout. With the right training to all concerned parties
the event of a disasterand periodic mock tests it is possible to recover
· Complete Contact details of memberssuccessfully from a real life disaster.
and alternate contacts