Disaster Recovery Planning

Everything you need to know to avoid costly down time and get your systems back online in no time.

Don't wait for disaster to strike to find out how vulnerable your systems are. Your company's very survival could depend on how quickly you restore your computer and communications systems following a disaster. In this down-to-earth, nuts-and-bolts guide, expert Jon Toigo tells you what you need to do to prevent many disasters from happening and how to minimize the impact of those that cannot be avoided.

Jon Toigo examines the many causes of computer system failures and gives you proven, logical, easy-to-follow steps you can take to avoid them. A comprehensive, step-by-step guide to disaster recovery, from planning concept to execution, Disaster Recovery Planning:

• Covers the recovery requirements of mainframes as well as personal computers, LANs, WANs, departmental processors, and communications systems
• Provides a detailed analysis of disaster avoidance systems that can prevent network down time from occurring
• Explores the politics of disaster recovery planning, with tips on how to work with management to get the funding you need
• Comes with a disk containing all the forms you need to quickly develop your own disaster recovery plan

Don't wait for disaster to strike. Do something now.

Get your hands on this book and find out how to be prepared for the worst.

• Chapter 1: Introduction
• Definition of a Disaster
• Rationale for Disaster Recovery Planning
• User Contracts
• Audit Requirements
• Legal Requirements
• Additional benefits
• Limitations of Disaster Recovery Planning
• Pragmatic Orientation of Effective Planning
• Plan Scenario and Objectives
• Risk Analysis
• Emergency Decision-making
• Recovery Strategies
• Methodology and Project Controls
• Chapter 2: The Disaster Recovery Planning Project
  
• Multiphasic Approach
• Similarities to Other Business Planning Projects
• Integration with Other Planning and Development Projects
• Project Management
• Summary
• Checklist of Disaster Recovery Requirements at My Company
• Chapter 3: Preliminary Steps
  
• Obtaining Management Sponsorship
• Conduct Informal Risk Assessment
• Gather Industry Statistics
• Research Case Histories
• Identify Relevant Legal & Regulatory Mandates
• Develop Justification
• Conduct Management Awareness Briefing
• Recommended Corporate Policies on Contingency Planning
• Assemble Project Team
• Considerations for Staffing the Project Team
• Management
• Technical Experts
• Clerical and Support Personnel
• Develop an Action Plan
• Define the Scope of the Plan
• Identify General Objectives
• Allocate Tasks and Responsibilities
• Schedule Task Completion Dates
• Formalize Data Collection Tools
• Formalize Analytical Methodology
• Develop Formal Meeting Schedule
• Coordination and Control
• Documentation Standards
• Software Standards (Generic Applications)
• Software Standards (Special Applications)
• Other Control Vehicles
• Periodic reporting
• Developing the Planning Budget
• Fixed Costs
• Payroll Allocation
• Travel
• Consulting Fees
• Supplies
• Other Items
• Summary
• Checklist for Chapter
• Chapter 4: Data Collection
  
• Overview and Method
• About the Questionnaire
• Other Data Collection Considerations
• Outputs of Data Collection on Business Functions
• Business Function Map
• Organizing Collected Data
• Data Refinement
• Consultative Data
• Data Collection on Computer Systems
• Data Collection on Telecommunications Requirements
• Data Collection on Records Requirements
• Summary
• Checklist for Chapter
• Chapter 5: Exposure and Risk Analysis
  
• Assess Threats
• Different Classification Schemes
• Classification by Effect
• Disaster Potentials
• Environmental Considerations
• Define Exposure
• Fixed (Replacement) Costs
• Nonfixed (Reconstruction) Costs
• Other Intangible Costs
• Other Costs
• The Time Factor
• Maximum Acceptable Downtime
• Timing of a Disaster
• Risk Analysis
• Risk Management
• A Pragmatic Approach
• Insurance as a Disaster Impact Mitigator
• Types of Coverages
• Advantages of Disaster Recovery Plan in Insurance Planning
• Role of Insurance in Disaster Recovery
• Presenting Findings
• Summary
• Checklist for Chapter
• Chapter 6: Facility Disaster Prevention Capabilities
  
• Rationale and Overview
• Purpose of Installing Disaster Prevention Capabilities
• Other Advantages
• Scope
• General Facilities
• System Areas and Switch Rooms
• User Work Environment
• Identifying Vendors
• Initial Contacts
• Evaluating Offerings
• Documenting Bids
• Summary
• Checklist for Chapter
• Chapter 7: Developing an Off-Site Storage Program
  
• Overview and Purpose
• Insurance Considerations
• Legal Considerations
• Assign Criticality to Data and Records
• Definition of Criticality
• Review of Records Management Standards
• Develop a Backup Plan
• Identifying Storage Requirements of Work Units
• Identifying Storage Requirements of Data Centers
• Storage Requirements of Small Systems
• Putting Together a Requirements List
• Off-site Storage Strategies
• Off-line versus On-line Storage
• Imaging Backup
• Selecting Bids and Evaluating Options
• Documenting Vendor Bids
• Summary
• Checklist for Chapter
• Chapter 8: Systems Recovery Planning
  
• Setting Objectives for Systems Recovery
• Developing Target Systems Recovery Inventories
• Time Requirements
• Cost Requirements
• Systems Backup Strategy Development
• Develop a Minimum Equipment Configuration
• Review Subject Systems
• Identify Critical Applications
• Identify Required Peripherals
• Explore Opportunities for Integration/Consolidation
• Determine Usage Parameters
• Document a Minimum Equipment Configuration
• Hardware Requirements
• Software Requirements
• Data Communications Requirements
• User Requirements
• Assumptions
• Examine Recovery Options
• Options (Ordered by Confidence Level)
• Assign Costs to Options
• Document Option Costs
• Evaluate Options
• Visit Qualified Sites
• Check References
• Review Contracts
• Solicit Bids
• Document Preferred Strategy
• Summary
• Checklist for Chapter
• Chapter 9: Network and Communications Recovery Planning
  
• Setting the Scope of Network Recovery
• Time Requirement
• Inventory of Critical Business Functions
• Requisite Communications Capabilities
• Define a Minimum Service Requirement
• Review Subject Networks
• Identify Critical Applications
• Identify Required Peripherals
• Explore Opportunities for Integration/Consolidation
• Explore Opportunities for Traffic Rerouting
• Determine Usage Parameters
• Data Communications Requirements
• Document a Minimum Equipment Configuration
• Hardware Requirements
• Software Requirements
• Assumptions
• Examine Recovery Options
• Options
• Assign Costs to Options
• Contact Vendors
• Document Option Costs
• Evaluate Options
• Check References
• Review Contracts
• Solicit Bids
• Document Preferred Strategy
• Summary
• Checklist for Chapter
• Chapter 10: End User Recovery Planning
  
• Scope of User Recovery Planning
• Resumption of Critical Business Operations
• Recovery Personnel
• Backroom Operations Center Strategies
• Local Option
• Remote Option
• Laissez-Faire
• Logistics and Planning
• Site Preparation
• Notification
• Transportation
• Shift Schedules
• Food and Shelter
• Document Strategy and Estimate Costs
• Summary
• Checklist for Chapter
• Chapter 11: Presentation of the Plan Overview
  
• Presentation of Findings to Senior Management
• Exposure Analysis/Risk Analysis
• Disaster Avoidance Capabilities and Costs
• System Recovery Strategies and Costs
• Network Recovery Strategies and Costs
• User Recovery Strategies and Costs
• Insurance Coverages and Costs
• Presentation of Implementation Plan
• Implementation Tasks
• Present Cost Estimates for Maintenance
• Coordinator Salary
• Vendor Contract Renewal
• Maintenance Contracts on Redundant/Plan-Specific Hardware and Software
• Training Budget
• Testing Budget
• Insurance Premiums
• Summary
• Checklist for Chapter
• Chapter 12: Plan Development
• Structure of the Plan Document
• Considerations for Ease of Maintenance
• Considerations for Ease of Use
• Emergency Decision-making Flowchart
• Reaction Phase
• Recovery Phase
• Transition Phase
• Team Selection
• Criteria for Selection
• Role of Human Resources
• Notification Trees
• An Example from a Disaster Recovery Plan
• Summary
• Checklist for Chapter
• Chapter 13: Disaster Recovery Training
• Objectives of Training
• Developing the Training Program
• Classroom
• Text-based
• Awareness Programs
• Other Opportunities for Education
• Professional Contingency Planning Organizations
• User Groups
• Publications
• Summary
• Checklist for Chapter
• Chapter 14: Testing Disaster Recovery Plans
• Purpose and Scope
• Goals of Testing
• Myths about Testing
• Test Frequency
• Types of Tests
• How to Test
• Develop a Testing Strategy
• Schedule the Test
• Implement the Test and Document Results
• Design and Implement Change Management System
• Company Policy on Disaster Recovery Plan Maintenance
• Institution of a Full-time Disaster Recovery Plan Coordinator
• Formal Change Management Systems
• Regularized Testing Schedule

A very good book about the subject. Easy to digest and practical.