[DR] [PM] Phase 4 IT DR Strategy - Charting the Course for Recovery (Strategize)

Phase 4: IT DR Strategy, or Strategy Development (Strategize), marks a crucial step in your DR planning journey.  Here, you will leverage the insights from previous phases to chart a clear course for recovery in a disaster.  

This chapter emphasizes developing a comprehensive DR strategy that aligns with your organization's risk tolerance and budget.

Overview of Charting Your Course to Recovery

The chapter dives into key considerations for crafting your DR strategy.  This includes referencing the established Recovery Time Objectives (RTOs) and Recovery Point Objectives (RPOs) for your critical applications, defined in Phase 3.  

Your DR strategy should ensure your recovery meets these objectives, minimizing downtime and data loss.  The chapter also explores various disaster recovery options, such as hot, warm, and cold sites. Each offers varying levels of recovery speed and comes with different associated costs.  

Selecting the most appropriate option depends on your organization's needs and resources.  Furthermore, the chapter emphasizes defining clear procedures for data backup and recovery. This includes selecting suitable backup methods and establishing a reliable backup schedule to safeguard your critical data.

Beyond IT systems, this phase underlines the importance of integrating your DR strategy with your organization's broader business continuity plan. This ensures a holistic approach to crisis management, addressing not just IT recovery but also the resumption of critical business functions across the organization.  

The chapter highlights the importance of conducting a cost-benefit analysis to assess the financial implications of various DR strategies objectively. Considering the cost of downtime and data loss, this analysis should factor in infrastructure costs, personnel costs, data backup expenses, and the potential return on investment. By carefully considering these factors, you can make informed decisions that align with your organization's budget and risk tolerance.

Develop DR Strategies

Drawing upon your risk analysis and application impact assessment insights, this phase emphasizes developing a comprehensive DR strategy. Here are some key considerations:

Recovery Time Objectives (RTOs) and Recovery Point Objectives (RPOs)

Refer to the established RTOs and RPOs for your critical applications (defined in Phase 3). Your DR strategy should ensure recovery meets these objectives, minimizing downtime and data loss.

DR Site Selection

Consider various disaster recovery site options, such as hot sites, warm sites, or cold sites. Each option offers varying degrees of recovery speed and cost. The most appropriate choice depends on your organization's risk tolerance and budget (covered later in this phase).

Data Backup and Recovery Procedures

Define clear procedures for backing up your critical data and restoring it during a disaster. This includes selecting appropriate backup methods (full, incremental, differential) and establishing a reliable backup schedule.

Business Continuity Strategies

Disaster recovery focuses on IT systems, but business continuity encompasses the broader organizational response. This phase emphasizes integrating your IT DR strategy with your organization's business continuity plan. This ensures a holistic approach to crisis management, addressing IT recovery and the resumption of critical business functions.

Cost-Benefit Analysis

Different DR strategies come with varying cost implications. This phase highlights the importance of conducting a thorough cost-benefit analysis. Here's what to consider:

• Infrastructure Costs. Factor in the costs of establishing and maintaining your chosen DR site (e.g., leasing space, equipment, software licenses).
  Personnel Costs: Consider the ongoing costs of training personnel and conducting DR drills.
  
  
• Data Backup Costs. Account for storage media costs, backup software, and any potential cloud storage fees.
  
  
• Return on Investment (ROI). While DR is an investment, quantify the potential return by considering the downtime and data loss cost.
  By objectively analyzing the costs and potential benefits of various DR strategies, you can make informed decisions that align with your organization's risk tolerance and budget.

Align with the Business Continuity Plan

A siloed IT DR plan is not enough. This phase emphasizes the importance of ensuring your IT DR strategy seamlessly integrates with your organization's broader business continuity plan.  This plan outlines the steps necessary for resuming critical business functions after a disaster. Here's how to achieve successful integration:

• Shared Recovery Objectives. Ensure the RTOs and RPOs defined in your DR strategy are aligned with the recovery timeframes outlined in your business continuity plan.
  
  
• Communication and Collaboration. Establish clear communication channels and collaboration protocols between IT and other departments involved in business continuity planning.
  
  
• Regular Reviews and Updates. Schedule regular reviews of your IT DR strategy and business continuity plan. This ensures that both plans remain aligned and reflect any changes in the organisational or threat landscape.