Do You Test Your Disaster Recovery Plan?

You Must Ensure the Recoverability of Your Critical IT Infrastructure!

If it were possible I would ask for a show of hands, but it’s not, so let’s pretend.  How many of you have a disaster recovery plan?  By a disaster recovery plan I mean a formal documented plan that would allow you to recover your critical technology assets. I mean a specific plan to recover the systems, the applications and the data?  Oh yeah, don’t forget ALL the platforms, the desktops and the telecommunications environment – voice and data.  How many of you test the DR plan?  Do you bring the entire critical Information Technology environment up to ensure it would work if need be – from the ground up?  How many of you test more than once a year or when technology changes?

If you raised your hand to all of the above, congratulations – you are definitely in the minority.  Depending on what survey you read, very few organizations that have a plan test their plan – especially the small / medium businesses.  Fewer yet, regardless of size, actually identify measurable test goals and objectives and/or track the results.

When you factor in Symantec’s 2009 disaster recovery statistics – 25% of all disaster recovery tests fail, and only 15% of those surveyed indicated they have never had a test fail.  If you have never tested – your odds of full recovery are not good, especially in a timely fashion.

When you consider an event that requires the actual restoration of businesses information technology that supports the critical business functions; not having tested the restoration process is a scary thought.  Are you the one who would have to explain to senior management that you were unable to restore the technology environment to the level the business units and clients were expecting?

Testing is the ONLY way to ensure the recoverability of your critical infrastructure!  IT-Lifeline clients that test prove that every day.  They are ensuring the recoverability of the technology it would require to support their organization and thus their customers, should they experience a business disruption that affects their technology assets.  Can you say the same?