Question: Which of the following is a critical first step in disaster recovery and contingency planning?
A Plan testing and drills
B Complete a business impact analysis
C Determine offsite backup facility alternatives
D Organize and create relevant documentation
Answer: Complete a business impact analysis
| Steps of disaster recovery and contingency planning | Description | |
| 1 | Business impact analysis (BIA) | Assess and prioritize critical business processes and their dependencies and evaluate the potential impact of disruptions. |
| 2 | Risk assessment and threat analysis | Identify potential risks and threats that could impact the organization, considering natural disasters, cyberattacks etc. |
| 3 | Develop a contingency plan | Create a comprehensive plan outlining strategies for responding to different disaster scenarios. |
| 4 | Data backup and recovery | Implement data backup and recovery solutions to ensure data integrity and availability in case of data loss. |
| 5 | Testing and drills | Regularly test and conduct drills of the contingency plan to ensure it works effectively and train personnel in emergency response. |
| 6 | Communication and notification | Establish communication and notification procedures to keep employees, stakeholders and the public informed during a crisis. |
| 7 | Establish offsite backup facilities | Identify and set up offsite backup facilities for critical infrastructure, data and resources to ensure business continuity. |
| 8 | Documentation and documentation management | Create and maintain detailed documentation of the contingency plan, recovery procedures and relevant information for reference during emergencies. |
| 9 | Training and education | Provide training and education to employees and stakeholders to ensure they are aware of the plan and understand their roles during a disaster. |
| 10 | Monitoring and updating | Regularly monitor and update the plan to reflect changes in technology, personnel and potential risks. |