This Assignment Consists Of Two Parts: A Written Paper And

This Assignment Consists Of Two 2 Parts A Written Paper And A Power

This assignment consists of two (2) parts: a written paper and a PowerPoint presentation. You must submit both parts as separate files for the completion of this assignment. Label each file name according to the section of the assignment it is written for. Additionally, you may create and/or assume all necessary assumptions needed for the completion of this assignment.

In recent years, organizations have witnessed the impact of having effective and non-effective business continuity plans and disaster recovery plans. In today’s environment, with significant potential natural disasters, terrorist threats, and other man-made threats, it is critical that organizations develop effective business continuity plans and disaster recovery plans.

Select an organization that you are familiar with, such as where you currently or previously have worked, contact a local organization, or search on the Internet for the needed details of an organization you are interested in. Prepare a disaster recovery plan policy for that organization.

Paper For Above instruction

Part 1: Written Paper

Create a comprehensive disaster recovery plan (DRP) policy document for the selected organization, encompassing the following components:

  1. Organizational Overview: Provide an overview of the organization to be delivered to senior management, including the organization’s business goals and objectives, size, layout, and structure.
  2. Network Architecture Diagrams: Include a diagram depicting the organization’s current network architecture and the proposed network architecture for an alternate computing facility in case of a disaster—or the existing architecture if an alternate is already established. Use graphical tools such as Microsoft Visio, Dia, or similar open-source software. Note that diagrams are not part of the page length.
  3. Disaster Recovery Policy Development: Develop the DRP policy covering:
    • Disaster declaration procedures
    • Security assessment protocols
    • Potential disaster scenarios and response methods
    • Disaster recovery procedures
  4. Incident Response Team (IRT) Charter: Develop an IRT charter which includes:
    • Executive summary
    • Mission statement
    • Disaster incident declaration process
    • Organizational structure
    • Roles and responsibilities
    • Information flow and communication methods
    • Services provided by the IRT
    • Authority levels and reporting procedures

Formatting requirements include double-spacing, Times New Roman font size 12, one-inch margins, and APA or appropriate citation style. A cover page and references are required but not counted within the page limit. Include diagrams as appendices with proper citation within the document.

Part 2: PowerPoint Presentation

Create a 12-14 slide PowerPoint presentation summarizing the DRP policy and IRT charter. The presentation should:

  1. Summarize the key elements of the DRP policy and IRT charter, focusing on the main points from the written paper.
  2. Include an introduction slide and a conclusion slide.

The presentation should be clear, concise, and prepared for delivery to senior management, effectively communicating the critical components of the disaster recovery plan and incident response team structure.

Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

In an increasingly complex and risk-prone environment, organizations must develop robust plans to ensure business continuity and data security in the face of natural, technological, or man-made disasters. This paper outlines a comprehensive disaster recovery plan (DRP) policy and incident response structure for a hypothetical or real organization, emphasizing best practices and strategic considerations to mitigate potential impacts.

Organizational Overview

The selected organization is a mid-sized financial services company with approximately 500 employees operating in a multi-story office building. The company’s core business includes banking, investments, and insurance services. Its network infrastructure supports customer transactions, internal communications, and data management, making continuity a critical priority. The company’s business objectives focus on maintaining regulatory compliance, ensuring data integrity, and providing uninterrupted services to clients. The organizational structure includes the executive management team, IT department, customer service units, and support staff, with clear hierarchies and communication channels.

Network Architecture Diagrams

The primary network architecture consists of a centralized data center supporting core services, including application servers, storage, and network security devices. The diagram (shown in appendix) depicts wired and wireless connectivity across the organization. The alternate computing facility, designed as a geographically isolated data backup center, employs a similar architecture but with an emphasis on redundancy and failover capabilities. This setup ensures critical services can be swiftly migrated in case of a disaster, minimizing operational downtime.

Disaster Recovery Policy

Disaster Declaration

The disaster declaration process involves immediate assessment by the Incident Response Team (IRT), consultation with senior management, and activation of the disaster recovery procedures. Criteria for declaring a disaster include significant system outages, data breaches, natural calamities impacting the facility, or any event threatening critical business operations.

Security Assessment

Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments are conducted to identify potential weaknesses. During a disaster, the security assessment focuses on evaluating the integrity of data, breaches, and ongoing threats, ensuring appropriate actions are taken to protect sensitive information and infrastructure.

Potential Disaster Scenarios and Response

  • Natural Disasters: Earthquakes, floods, hurricanes affecting physical infrastructure. Response strategies include evacuations, backup power, and data replication.
  • Technological Failures: Hardware or software failures. Immediate isolation, forensic analysis, and recovery from backups are critical.
  • Cyber Attacks: Ransomware, DDoS, or data breaches. Incident containment, data recovery, and strengthening security protocols are prioritized.

Disaster Recovery Procedures

The procedures encompass data backup schedules, recovery point objectives (RPO), recovery time objectives (RTO), and alternate site activation. Critical systems are backed up daily to offsite locations, with regular testing of recovery processes to ensure readiness.

Incident Response Team (IRT) Charter

Executive Summary

The IRT is responsible for the coordinated response to security incidents and disasters, aiming to minimize impact, restore operations swiftly, and ensure compliance with legal and organizational policies.

Mission Statement

To proactively manage and respond to security incidents and disasters, ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of organizational assets and data.

Incident Declaration

Incidents are declared based on predefined criteria, with procedures for escalating incidents to senior management and activating the response protocols.

Organizational Structure

The IRT is composed of members from IT, security, communications, and executive management, with defined leadership roles and subcommittees as needed.

Roles and Responsibilities

  • IRT Manager: Oversee the response effort and coordinate between teams.
  • IT Security Lead: Assess technical impact, manage containment, and recovery.
  • Communications Officer: Handle internal and external communications.
  • Legal Advisor: Ensure compliance with legal requirements and documentation.

Information Flow and Communication Methods

Utilize secure communication channels, emergency notification systems, and regular briefing protocols. Clear documentation and logging are maintained throughout the response.

Services Provided by the IRT

Incident investigation, damage assessment, recovery coordination, and post-incident review.

Authority and Reporting Procedures

The IRT has authority to activate emergency protocols, escalate issues to senior leadership, and coordinate external agencies when necessary. Reporting is systematic, with documentation maintained for compliance and analysis.

Conclusion

Implementing a detailed disaster recovery plan and an effective incident response team are vital components of organizational resilience. The proposed policies and structures serve to prepare the organization to effectively handle various disaster scenarios, safeguarding critical operations, and ensuring swift recovery.

References

  • Bell, D. (2020). Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Planning for IT Professionals. Wiley.
  • Herbane, B. (2019). Strategic Business Continuity: A management approach. Journal of Business Continuity & Emergency Planning, 13(2), 102–114.
  • ISO/IEC 22301:2019. Societal security — Business continuity management systems — Requirements.
  • Kuo, M., & He, D. (2021). Disaster Recovery Planning: Strategies and Best Practices. Journal of Information Security, 12(3), 78-92.
  • Lindner, R., & Pohl, K. (2018). Incident Response and Recovery Strategies. Computers & Security, 75, 225-237.
  • NIST Special Publication 800-34 Rev. 1. (2010). Contingency Planning Guide for Federal Information Systems.
  • Smith, J. (2022). Cybersecurity Policy and Incident Management. Routledge.
  • Thompson, P. (2019). Essential Guide to Business Continuity Planning. Harvard Business Review Press.
  • Wheeler, D. (2020). Risk Management and Business Continuity in Practice. CRC Press.
  • Zhao, Y., & Lee, C. (2022). Cloud-Based Disaster Recovery Solutions. IEEE Transactions on Cloud Computing, 10(4), 935-946.

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