Step 1: Create a Disaster Recovery Plan (DRP) Planning Team ? Choose team members who have decision-making approval and sufficient authority to gather information companywide.
-- Define team members’ responsibilities.
-- Create a clear organizational chart that outlines who is responsible for each aspect of disaster-recovery planning.
Step 2: Evaluate Your Business Processes
Evaluate and rank (in order of importance) all business processes.
-- Define which business processes, technology, systems, and applications must be restored for the business to continue operating.
-- Determine the level of disaster protection you want to achieve.
Step 3: Determine which IT Processes Will Be Incorporated into the DRP
-- Evaluate existing backup and recovery processes.
-- Integrate existing processes into the DRP.
-- Upgrade existing processes as necessary.
Step 4: Implement and Test the DRP
-- Document all duties and responsibilities of people who have disaster recovery roles.
-- Roll out any additional hardware or software needed.
-- Test the DRP by walking through the disaster-recovery process.
-- Based on feedback from the walk-through, modify the DRP to reflect the actual process.
-- Get final management approval before distributing the final DRP documents.
-- Distribute the final DRP documents to all involved parties.
-- Maintain and securely store offsite printed copies of all DRP documentation.
Step 5: Maintain an Ongoing DRP Process
-- Schedule regular DRP team meetings so that different departments can interact and provide ongoing input into keeping the DRP relevant and up-to-date.
-- Carry out regularly scheduled DRP tests.
-- Schedule regular updates to the DRP to accommodate changes to business processes or technology infrastructure.
-- Schedule regular evaluations of technology and workflow and update the DRP accordingly.
-- Assign responsibility for all DRP update and maintenance programs to key people, plus designate a central person or persons who’ll be responsible for cross-checking any changes.
