Create A Disaster Recovery Plan For A Specific Organization
Create a Disaster Recovery Plan for a specific organization
Create a Disaster Recovery Plan for either the organization they work for or one they wish to work for in the future. The plan will follow the template/example provided. Should request prior authorization of company to be addressed to ensure that all students are working on unique companies. *Even though this is a technical document, for academic purposes, all sources should be cited and referenced. You may modify some of the sections per the company they have selected but all students will need to complete a DR Plan for the Portfolio Requirement. SafeAssign should be turned on and reviewed since it will flag a lot of the common elements but we want to make sure the students are writing the content from scratch.
Paper For Above instruction
Introduction
A Disaster Recovery Plan (DRP) is an essential component of an organization’s business continuity strategy, aimed at restoring critical functions after a disruptive event such as natural disasters, cyberattacks, or system failures. Developing an effective DRP ensures minimal downtime, protects organizational assets, and maintains customer trust. This paper outlines a comprehensive DRP tailored for a mid-sized financial services company, 'SecureBank,' emphasizing proactive planning, response strategies, and recovery procedures in accordance with industry standards and best practices.
Organization Overview
SecureBank prides itself on delivering secure financial services, including online banking, loan processing, and customer account management. The organization employs approximately 500 staff members, with critical operations supported by various information technology (IT) systems, including customer databases, transaction processing servers, and communication networks. Given the sensitivity of financial data and the regulatory environment, the company requires a robust DRP aligned with federal and industry regulations such as FFIEC guidelines and GDPR.
Risk Assessment and Business Impact Analysis
The first phase in developing a DRP involves identifying potential threats and assessing their impact on business operations. For SecureBank, risks include natural disasters like floods and earthquakes, cyber threats such as ransomware, power outages, and hardware failures. A Business Impact Analysis (BIA) assessed the potential financial and operational losses associated with different disaster scenarios, revealing that database corruption and network outages could cause the most significant impact, halting transaction processing and customer access.
Preventive Measures and Preparedness
Prevention strategies focus on reducing the likelihood of disaster occurrence. These include implementing firewalls, intrusion detection systems, regular data backups, and disaster-resistant infrastructure. Employee training ensures awareness of cybersecurity protocols, and routine system testing verifies the effectiveness of backup and recovery procedures. The redundancy of data centers and cloud solutions further mitigates risk by ensuring off-site backups are available.
Response Strategies and Emergency Procedures
During an incident, rapid response is vital. SecureBank employs an Incident Response Team (IRT) authorized to activate the DRP. The first step involves assessing the incident’s scope to determine whether to execute a full or partial recovery plan. Emergency procedures include notifying key stakeholders, activating communication plans, and securing physical and digital assets. For example, in a cyberattack scenario, isolating affected systems prevents malware spread and begins digital forensic analysis.
Recovery Procedures
The recovery phase focuses on restoring normal operations. SecureBank’s DRP enforces priority levels, with core banking systems being restored first using data backups stored in geographically dispersed data centers. The recovery includes hardware replacement, system rebuilding, data restoration, and testing to verify system integrity. Once systems are operational, a post-incident review identifies lessons learned and updates the DRP accordingly.
Plan Testing and Maintenance
Regular testing ensures the effectiveness and reliability of the DRP. SecureBank conducts quarterly drills, including tabletop exercises, simulated cyberattacks, and full recovery tests. Feedback from these drills prompts plan revisions, addressing gaps or outdated procedures. The DRP also requires annual reviews aligned with organizational changes, technological advancements, and regulatory updates.
Conclusion
An effective Disaster Recovery Plan minimizes the operational and financial impact of disasters on SecureBank. Continuous evaluation, testing, and updates enhance organizational resilience, ensuring rapid recovery and sustained customer trust. The plan aligns with industry standards, regulatory requirements, and best practices, serving as a vital component of the organization's overall risk management strategy.
References
American Bankers Association. (2021). Business Continuity Planning. ABA Publishing.
Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC). (2019). Business Continuity Planning Booklet. FFIEC.
Gordon, L. A., Loeb, M. P., & Zhou, L. (2020). The Impact of Information Security Breaches: Has There Been a Change in the Nature of the Breaches? Journal of Cybersecurity, 6(1), 1-16.
Kinney, S., & Sagharian, S. (2019). Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity Planning for IT. Wiley.
Schneier, B. (2022). Secrets and Lies: Digital Security in a Networked World. Wiley.
Whitman, M. E., & Mattord, H. J. (2020). Principles of Incident Response and Disaster Recovery. Cengage Learning.
ISO/IEC 27031:2011. (2011). Information technology — Security techniques — Guidelines for information and communication technology readiness for business continuity.
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). (2018). Framework for Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity. NIST.
Wood, J. (2023). Cybersecurity for Financial Services. Academic Press.