Data Disaster Recovery Plan for Total Disaster

(A) Scope

This DR Plan is designed for the worst case scenario. i.e. complete loss of the site - fire, water damage (flood), earthquake.

Here are the key areas that you need to focus:

* Crisis Management Procedures

* Security Procedures held by Building Security

* List of emergency contact names held by Senior Management.

* Backup/ Recovery Procedures

* Inventory List(s) (what required / can be savaged)

* Business Continuity Plans

* DR Test, BCP Test (These can be provided by DR Managed Service)

(B) Invocation Procedures
This is an important and often ignored section of the plan that should be given great attention. It is also imperative that the procedures defined here are included in the testing schedule as plans invariably flounder at this early stage due to lack of familiarity with how to set the recovery process in motion. It should contain details of who is authorized to invoke the plan, and how this is to be done.

Purpose
In a disaster situation people will need to take on special responsibilities to effect the data recovery.

Such responsibilities need to be defined clearly, and the assignments can then be made from the pool of staff available at the time. Provisional allocations have been made but will be confirmed at the time with the personnel available.

Records should be kept of personnel assigned to specific teams in order that the recovery process is controlled in an orderly manner and that a record of staff not actively involved on-site is maintained (this can then be used if required to call on extra resource as/when necessary).

Telephone Numbers are one of the important contributing factor to the success of data disaster recovery. Imagine during emergency, you cannot contact a technical personal responsible for a specific system as you do not his/her number!

At Disaster Recovery site, ensure the following are available:

* Server Room Filing Cabinet

* Standard Build Documentation

* Application Restore Procedures

* Technical Manuals

* Disaster Recovery Plan copy

* Contact Numbers of your own Personnel

* Contact Numbers of Disaster Recovery Service (Your appointed DR Vendor)

Remote backup will assist in backup process in the offsite backup centre. The remote backup can be done via communication lines such as Wide Area Network or Private Lease Line (encrypted line is recommended).

Inventory
Following loss of HW and SW, it will be necessary to set insurance claims processing in motion. To assist in this process inventories of hardware and software should be maintained.

Hardware and Software Inventory (This encompasses IT e.g. PCs, Servers and also non IT asset e.g. furniture and fixtures, phones, important documents etc.

Plan Testing

Purpose
It is imperative that detailed testing plans are produced to support the Disaster Recovery document. The plan is not a working document until it has been fully tested and proven using the Disaster Recovery Software.

Here is an example of a Data Disaster Recovery form that you can use:

Please enter details of all attempts made whether successful or unsuccessful.

Recovery of Country Data Centre
In the event of Disaster (e.g. fire, water damage - flood) in the company with a total loss of servers and networks, we will bring up the critical servers in this location.

(C) In-House Recovery

* Action: Retrieve backup tapes from offsite centre

* Action: 2 hours - can recovery a month old data. Offsite backup tape is 1 month old data.

DISASTER DATA RECOVERY SITE TEAM

Once decision taken to invoke this Plan Data Disaster Recovery Plan, the following checklists are recommended:

* Locate /Install DR Server(s) - server disaster recovery

* Contact third party suppliers for additional equipment (if required)

* Equipment available at DR site Install and test Disaster Recovery equipment and connectivity

* Connect up Switches and Server

* Test all network points

* Install/Test workstations

* DR site established Restore application(s)

* Recover latest copies of system and data backups

* Restore operating system environment

* Restore applications

* Restore data files

* Notify user management of availability and status

* Restoration complete Hand over

* Obtain user acceptance

* Leave contact details for support.