[DR] [PM] Phase 5 IT DR Plan Development - Putting Your Strategy into Action (Document)

Phase 5: IT DR Plan Development, also known as DR Plan Documentation (Document), marks a critical step in your IT disaster recovery (DR) journey.

Here, you will translate your well-defined DR strategy from Phase 4 into a clear and actionable plan, ready to guide your team through any IT disaster.  This chapter emphasizes the importance of creating a comprehensive DR plan document that outlines the specific steps your team will take during a crisis.

Overview of Putting Your Strategy into Action

The chapter dives into the key components you should consider including in your DR plan. It starts by defining the specific criteria, such as outage types or security breaches, that would trigger the activation of your plan.  

The plan should also establish different recovery teams and clearly outline each team member's roles and responsibilities. This ensures everyone understands their assigned tasks during a disaster.  

Another crucial element is detailed recovery procedures for critical applications and systems. These procedures should be step-by-step and account for various disaster scenarios to provide clear instructions for recovery efforts.

The chapter also highlights the importance of establishing clear internal and external communication protocols during a crisis.  

This includes defining who needs to be informed, how they will be told, and who will act as the organization's spokesperson.  Finally, the chapter emphasizes the importance of incorporating learnings from regular DR drills and real-world events to revise and update your DR plan on an ongoing basis.

Beyond the plan, this phase underlines the importance of clearly defining roles and responsibilities for each team member involved in the disaster response process.  Assigning specific roles, considering succession plans for key personnel, and providing ongoing training and awareness programs are all crucial to ensuring your team is prepared to execute the DR plan effectively.  

The chapter concludes by emphasizing the importance of documenting detailed procedures and protocols for various critical DR activities, such as data backup, system recovery, and communication.  Following these steps, you can transform your DR strategy into a comprehensive and actionable plan, equipping your organization to respond efficiently to unforeseen events and safeguard your critical IT infrastructure.

Develop a Detailed DR Plan

This phase emphasizes creating a detailed DR plan as a critical roadmap for your team during a disaster. The plan should be clear, concise, and easy to navigate, even in high-pressure situations. Here are some key components to consider including:

• Disaster Declaration Criteria. Define the specific criteria that would trigger the activation of your DR plan. This could include particular outages, security breaches, or natural disasters.
  
  
• Recovery Teams and Roles. Outline the different recovery teams you'll establish (e.g., Incident Response Team, Recovery Team) and clearly define each member's roles and responsibilities. This ensures everyone understands their specific tasks during a disaster.
  
  
• Recovery Procedures. Document detailed procedures for each critical application and system recovery. These procedures should be step-by-step and account for various disaster scenarios.
  
  
• Communication Protocols. Establish clear internal and external communication protocols during a disaster. This includes defining who needs to be informed (e.g., senior management, customers), how they will be notified (e.g., email, phone calls), and the designated spokesperson for the organization.
  
  
• Testing and Revision Procedures. Schedule regular DR drills (covered in Phase 6) to test your plan and identify areas for improvement. This phase emphasizes incorporating learnings from these drills and real-world events to revise and update your DR plan on an ongoing basis.

Define Roles and Responsibilities

A well-defined DR plan is only as effective as the team executing it. This phase emphasizes the importance of clearly outlining the roles and responsibilities of each team member involved in the disaster response process. Here's what to consider:

• Clearly Defined Roles. Within your established recovery teams, assign specific roles to each team member. These roles should be documented in the DR plan and communicated to all team members.
  
  
• Succession Planning. Consider potential scenarios in which key personnel might be unavailable during a disaster. Develop a succession plan to ensure critical tasks are addressed.
  
  
• Training and Awareness. Provide ongoing training and awareness programs to ensure all team members understand their roles and responsibilities outlined in the DR plan.

Document Procedures and Protocols

Clear and documented procedures are essential for efficient disaster recovery. This phase emphasizes documenting detailed procedures and protocols for various critical DR activities, including:

• Data Backup Procedures. Document the specific procedures for backing up your critical data, including the chosen backup methods, media rotation schedule, and data verification procedures.
  
  
• System Recovery Procedures. Develop step-by-step procedures for recovering each critical system, considering various disaster scenarios and potential dependencies between systems.
  
  
• Communication Protocols. Document clear communication protocols, pre-defined communication templates, contact information for key personnel and external stakeholders, and escalation procedures.