6 Minute Read
This is a great way to test how your IT department will fare in the case of a serious business disruption. It runs through the process of moving various tapes, materials, personnel, etc., to a disaster recovery site, as well as setup of the equipment and communications necessary for alternate processing by the IT recovery team.
Participants
- Business recovery coordinator
- IT recovery team personnel, as appropriate
- Other personnel as determined necessary
Procedures
- Business recovery coordinator
- Distribute the entire plan, including blank copies of all applicable exhibits, to each participant
- Monitor the test and note changes, discussion points and observations for later discussion with the team leaders
- Reassemble the teams following completion of the test to discuss general observations, ideas, suggestions and team-specific changes or suggestions relating to the plan
- Meet with the team leader and alternate individually to discuss specific suggestions and changes that will enhance the plan and the future testing environment
- Evaluate the group’s performance in simulating the disaster scenario and identifying enhancements to the plan
- Update the plan based on the feedback from the team leader/alternate
- Maintain a file of maintenance forms that will provide evidence that the review and test have been performed
- Retain a representative sample of materials, including test results, in a file for review by regulators, third-party auditors or internal auditors
IT recovery team leader
- Develop an estimate of costs that may be incurred relating to the test and obtain management approval prior to proceeding
- Meet with all participants to explain the purpose and scope of the test
- Explain to the participants that backup materials and supplies may be retrieved only from the off-site storage location for this test
- Develop a written schedule describing major activities, time frames and responsible persons for each major activity within the test
- Track the number of hours used for testing and be cognizant of limitations and potential additional costs
- Track expenses relating to the test and review alternatives following the test that could potentially lower expenditures
- Lead the post-exercise discussion with team customers to review the results of the exercise and improvements to be made in the plan or exercise
- Manage the development and publishing of changes to the IT recovery team plan
- Prepare the post-exercise report for management and the business recovery coordinator, noting:
- Exercise objectives and participants
- Date exercise was performed
- Activities performed
- Degree to which the objectives were achieved
- Statements about identified revisions to the plan or that no revisions were required
- Recommendations to further improve preparedness
- Comments and future exercise recommendations
IT recovery team
- Move the necessary materials (e.g., magnetic tapes, reference manuals and supplies) from the off-site storage facility to the alternate processing site
- Discuss the following with the team leader before starting the simulation:
- Notification responsibilities by various team customers
- Coordination responsibilities to and from the vendors
- Critical forms and supplies that may be needed
- Backup and off-site storage of production files
- Rotation of IT staff
- Use the IT recovery team plan to restore the computer and communications environment
- Consider changes in the security of operating and application systems that may be necessary to operate in an emergency mode
- Verify the usability of the restored environment by accessing data and simulating processing
- Check the configuration of all network equipment and test communication circuits
- Note changes and enhancements that may be appropriate, and discuss these with the business recovery coordinator and team leader following the test
- Discuss staffing requirements as described in the plan
- Supplement minimum staff with temporary resources, if needed
- Prepare and assist in plan updates or enhancements
