ppt

Disaster Recovery

Principles and Practices

by April J. Wells, Charlyne Walker, and Timothy Walker

Chapter 8 Testing the Disaster Recovery Plan

Chapter 8 Objectives

· Explain the necessity of practicing the DR plan

· Describe the different kinds of tests that can be performed

· Explain reasons for testing

· Determine the impact of testing activities

· Understand the need for change control

· Describe methods of change control

© 2006 by Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 8 Testing the Disaster Recovery Plan 2

Introduction

· This chapter will help you

· Prepare for the DR test

· Conduct the test

· Learn from the test

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Rehearsing the DR Plan

· Reasons for testing

· Evaluate backup procedures

· Evaluate recovery procedures

· Provide recovery training

· Keep recovery plan current

© 2006 by Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 8 Testing the Disaster Recovery Plan 4

Rehearsing the DR Plan (cont.)

· Impact on organization

· Business must continue as usual

· Systems cannot be impacted by testing

· Recovery personnel must have normal job duties covered by others

· Costs of testing

· Transportation to recovery site, housing, meals, etc.

© 2006 by Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 8 Testing the Disaster Recovery Plan 5

Rehearsing the DR Plan (cont.)

· Develop criteria for

· Success/failure of plan

· Defining scope of disaster

· Develop procedures for

· Determining when recovery can be done on site

· How to move people to off site recovery location

© 2006 by Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 8 Testing the Disaster Recovery Plan 6

Rehearsing the DR Plan (cont.)

· Create step-by-step process

· Breaking into sections

· Allows partial testing

· Minimizes business disruptions

· Allows anyone to perform the recovery

© 2006 by Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 8 Testing the Disaster Recovery Plan 7

Rehearsing the DR Plan (cont.)

· Types of tests

· Checklist

· Non-intrusive

· Lists associated with systems recovery

· Basis of step-by-step instructions

· Add to DR plan documents

© 2006 by Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 8 Testing the Disaster Recovery Plan 8

Rehearsing the DR Plan (cont.)

· Types of tests (cont.)

· Simulation

· Non-intrusive

· Pretends to test recovery of systems

· Often provided by software vendors

© 2006 by Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 8 Testing the Disaster Recovery Plan 9

Rehearsing the DR Plan (cont.)

· Types of tests (cont.)

· Parallel

· Recovers system on parallel hardware

· Minimizes impact to production system

· Can be done during downtime

© 2006 by Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 8 Testing the Disaster Recovery Plan 10

Rehearsing the DR Plan (cont.)

· Types of tests (cont.)

· Full interruption

· Full recovery testing

· Most costly (backup site, duplicate hardware/software, etc.)

· Successful test assures recovery in actual disaster

© 2006 by Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 8 Testing the Disaster Recovery Plan 11

Rehearsing the DR Plan (cont.)

· Write test scenarios

· Developed by functional area

· Use step-by-step process

· Use document to record success/failure of each step in testing

© 2006 by Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 8 Testing the Disaster Recovery Plan 12

Rehearsing the DR Plan (cont.)

· Update the plan

· When hardware/software is added/removed

· After testing (what works, what needs to change)

· Minimally on annual basis

© 2006 by Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 8 Testing the Disaster Recovery Plan 13

Applying Change Control

Change control: process of documenting/approving changes to DR plan

· Must pass through change control board

· Make changes when they occur (systems, etc.) or are needed (updates as a result of tests, procedure changes, etc.)

· Schedule regular reviews for any missed changes

© 2006 by Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 8 Testing the Disaster Recovery Plan 14

Manage/Document the DR

· Stakeholders

· Contact internal during drills

· “Mock” contact external parties

· Keep copies of communication with DR documents

© 2006 by Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 8 Testing the Disaster Recovery Plan 15

Manage/Document the DR (cont.)

· Define goals

· Set goals up front

· Ensure goals are measurable

· Set time limits to plan steps

© 2006 by Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 8 Testing the Disaster Recovery Plan 16

Manage/Document the DR (cont.)

· Report

· Conduct analysis of testing

· Prepare formal report for organization

· Use report for future planning

© 2006 by Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 8 Testing the Disaster Recovery Plan 17

Summary

· You should now know

· Why DR testing is necessary

· How to prepare for DR testing

· Why and how to document changes to the DR plan

· How to manage and document the recovery

© 2006 by Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 8 Testing the Disaster Recovery Plan 18