T10: Test Planning Checklist

Testing Business Continuity Exercises

This is a series of useful templates that you can use to develop the Testing and Exercising program.

Test Planning Checklist

Explanation

This is a list of the common tasks for the planning of a test. This checklist is often used in conjunction with the “Template T1: Design Profile” document.

Type of Exercise: ___________________________________________

Date of Exercise: ___________________________________________

Task	Schedule	Completed
Obtain management support (Necessary throughout planning)
Decide what you need to evaluate/test (3- or 5-Year Plan)
Define the scope of the exercise
Establish objectives for the exercise
Identify limitations to exercise conduct
Revise objectives accordingly
Put together the Scenario Development Team
Develop the scenario sequence of events
Determine limits of participant response to each action
Develop messages, mini scenarios, data
Coordinate efforts of internal and external response organizations
Secure logistics support (people, facilities, food, paperwork)
Develop mock-ups, props, diagrams
Complete the exercise manual
Verify security control
Select the exercise controllers/evaluators
Set up an exercise control cell
Develop and conduct controller/evaluator training
Brief participants on scope and limits of the exercise
Inform employees, the public, the media of the exercise
Document and evaluate the exercise
Provide for exercise critiques and feedback
Generate the exercise report
Revise the plan and training based upon exercise lessons learned

Note that some steps may occur simultaneously and/or are on-going.

Source

Goh, M. H. (2006). Testing and Exercising Your Business Continuity Plan. Business Continuity Management Series (2nd ed.). Singapore: GMH Pte Ltd.

Extracted from "Chapter 32: T10: Test Planning Checklist"

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