Disaster Recovery Plan Template (Free Download)

Did you know that the disaster recovery plan is the most challenging to implement among the various components of a company’s security strategy? This is because a disaster recovery plan is carried out reactively—companies and security teams often don’t find out about disasters until it’s too late. And all that can be done is manage the situation the best you can.

While many businesses may have some form of backup plan in place, it’s important to understand that a backup plan alone does not constitute a comprehensive disaster recovery strategy.

In the event of a disaster, having a clear and well-defined plan is invaluable. Showing up prepared and knowing exactly what steps to take can make all the difference.

In this blog, we cover all the important aspects of an effective disaster recovery plan, tips to help improve preparedness, and a free downloadable business continuity and disaster recovery plan template to guide you through the process.

Let’s get started.

What is a disaster recovery plan?

A disaster recovery plan is a thorough plan made by a Disaster Recovery Committee. It outlines how to bring back IT systems after an unexpected shutdown. It contains detailed instructions on how you can respond to certain unexpected threats and bring back business to normal.

The plan covers what to do before, during, and after a disaster, whether natural reasons or manmade ones cause it. This includes intentional events like terrorism or hacking and accidental events like equipment failures.

Business continuity and disaster recovery plan meaning

Business continuity and disaster recovery plans help reduce the impact of outages and disruptions on business. In essence, it helps organizations recover quickly after issues, lowers the risk of losing data or damaging reputation, and improves overall operations while also reducing emergency risks.

Here is where you can download the template:

Purpose of disaster recovery plan

The main purpose of the disaster recovery plan is to make sure your organization can react to emergencies, like natural disasters, and keep the impact on business operations to a minimum.

Also, it’s because disasters can happen unexpectedly, and fixing things afterward can be really complicated. That’s why planning ahead is so important. It helps you return to normal faster and better after a crisis.

Steps for creating a disaster recovery plan

Creating a disaster recovery plan starts with having a decent disaster recovery policy first. The policy typically lays down the groundwork for restoring normal operations and availability in the quickest time possible.

Here are 7 steps involved in creating a disaster recovery plan:

1. Choose a person to lead the plan

The first step should be to identify a suitable leader for overseeing your organization’s DRP (Disaster recovery plan). Choose a person who is organized, collaborative, and able to maintain the DRP.

Developing a disaster recovery plan rests on every department across the organization. Department heads must identify which IT applications are crucial for the organization’s normal functioning.

2. Research official recommendations

While having a designated person or even a small team to manage disaster recovery is recommended, crucial decisions do not happen simply at their discretion.

For example, ISO 27031 establishes standards for using computers and digital technologies to assist individuals or companies in managing information for better decision-making.

3. Determine threat types

First, figure out the types of threats your business might encounter. These could include hacks, natural disasters, breaches, or exploits. Understand the potential impact of these events if they were to happen.

Next, evaluate the systems and services that your business relies on. Identify the most critical ones and prioritize these assets when creating recovery plans. 

4. Establish preventive measures

Now that you know what kind of threats you’re likely facing, it’s time to find preventive measures to avoid those risks from happening. 

• Set up a firewall to monitor and control incoming and outgoing network traffic
• Create strong and unique passwords for your accounts to make them harder for hackers to crack
• Install antivirus software to detect and remove malware, viruses, and other threats from your devices
• Implement network access control measures to regulate who can access your network and resources, enhancing overall security.
• Educate your employees about cybersecurity best practices to help them recognize and respond to potential threats.
• Use anomaly detection tools to identify unusual patterns or behaviors in your network that could indicate a security breach.

5. Develop risk mitigation strategies 

Risk mitigation is basically a well-rounded strategy on how to prepare for the worst and lessen the effects once a threat strikes. Your strategy should cover key areas like backing up critical assets and responding to incidents. 

It’s important to outline technical protocols and procedures for restoring systems. Mitigation measures must also consider minimizing outage impacts by temporarily disabling non-essential services. 

6. Create a chain of command 

Establishing a clear chain of command for communication is essential to an effective business continuity and disaster recovery plan. This involves defining roles for every individual in the organization, identifying dedicated members responsible for reacting to reports, and escalating issues as needed. 

The plan must finally outline communication methods dedicated to notifying stakeholders and specifying where contact information will be stored and how frequently it will be updated.

7. Test and improve

Testing and improving your disaster recovery plan ensures its effectiveness against the changing threat landscape. 

Start by establishing protocols for documenting cybersecurity threats to understand their impact better. Then, regularly test your plan and conduct test runs to ensure your recovery team can execute procedures as intended.

Simulate various scenarios to assess the plan’s effectiveness and gather feedback for improvement. Use this feedback to refine your plan, updating procedures and communication protocols as needed. 

Tips for creating a disaster recovery plan

The more ready you are with your disaster recovery planning, the better protected you will be against the rising number of business threats. With that being said, here are some tips you can keep in mind before creating a disaster recovery plan:

• Don’t wait for trouble to strike; start planning for disaster recovery before it happens
• Ensure that all staff members understand and support the chain of command outlined in the plan
• Recognize potential risks like data loss from cyberattacks or natural disasters and prioritize actions accordingly
• Keep updated contact details for recovery personnel and prioritize notifying management and stakeholders when an incident occurs
• Regularly conduct disaster recovery planning and testing to assess readiness and build confidence in your ability to recover from emergencies

Develop a bullet-proof disaster recovery policy with Sprinto

No organization can afford to ignore disaster recovery. It helps businesses save lots of money and can even determine whether a company survives a disaster or not. But to do this effectively, you must have good technology in place.

Sprinto can assist you in drafting a solid disaster recovery policy and template by providing the following features and support:

• Template Library: Access a library of pre-built disaster recovery policy templates tailored to various industries and compliance standards
• Customization: Customize the templates to be in line with your organization’s exact needs
• Expert guidance: Get the guidance you need throughout drafting the policy by explaining the key concepts and good practices
• Compliance Alignment: Make sure that the disaster recovery policy you have conforms to the applicable regulatory requirements and security frameworks like ISO 27001, HIPAA, and GDPR

Ready to take the next step? Speak to our compliance experts.

FAQs

What is a DR template?

A Disaster Recovery template consists of documents designed to guide businesses through the recovery process following a disaster. These templates outline the necessary steps and procedures for recovering data and operations, making them crucial for safeguarding business continuity.

Who writes the disaster recovery plan?

The Disaster Recovery Committee should author the Disaster Recovery Plan, comprising representatives from all critical departments or areas within the organization. This inclusive approach ensures that the plan addresses the needs and concerns of each department.

What are the 4 C’s of disaster recovery?

The four C’s of disaster recovery, aligned with the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (National VOAD) principles, are communication, coordination, collaboration, and cooperation. These guiding principles emphasize the importance of effective communication, coordinated efforts, stakeholder collaboration, and cooperation between organizations in disaster response and recovery efforts.