Disaster Recovery Process involves a structured and coordinated effort to restore and resume normal business operations after a disaster. The process includes the formation of specialized teams, clear communication protocols, and detailed plans for both immediate and long-term recovery efforts. Here’s a breakdown of the critical elements of the disaster recovery process:

Key Teams in the Disaster Recovery Process

1. Recovery Team
   • Role: The Recovery Team is responsible for implementing the disaster recovery plan after the declaration of a disaster. This team takes immediate action to restore critical business functions at the alternate site.
   • Responsibilities:
     • Activate the Disaster Recovery Plan: Execute the procedures outlined in the plan, ensuring that critical business functions are restored as quickly as possible.
     • Coordinate with Other Teams: Work closely with other internal and external teams to ensure a smooth recovery process.
     • Monitor Progress: Continuously monitor the recovery efforts, making adjustments as needed.
2. Salvage Team
   • Role: The Salvage Team is tasked with returning to the primary site to restore it to normal processing conditions once the immediate crisis has passed.
   • Responsibilities:
     • Environmental Restoration: Assess and restore environmental conditions at the primary site, including cleaning, repairing, and salvaging equipment and infrastructure.
     • Declare Site Availability: Once the primary site is fully restored and operational, the Salvage Team declares it available for normal operations.
3. Normal Operations Resume Plan
   • Purpose: This plan contains all the procedures required to transition business operations from the alternate site back to the primary site.
   • Key Procedures:
     • Data and System Transition: Safely transfer data and systems back to the primary site without disrupting ongoing operations.
     • Staff Transition: Ensure that staff members are smoothly transitioned back to the primary site, with minimal disruption to their workflow.
     • Verification and Testing: Verify that all systems and processes are functioning correctly before declaring normal operations fully resumed.

Other Recovery Issues

1. Interfacing with Other Groups
   • External Communication: The recovery process involves coordinating with external entities, such as vendors, partners, government agencies, and emergency services, to ensure a comprehensive recovery.
   • Media Relations: Manage public relations by communicating with the media to maintain the company’s reputation and provide accurate updates.
2. Employee Relations
   • Support for Employees and Families: Address the well-being of employees and their families during and after the disaster, providing necessary support and clear communication.
3. Fraud and Crime
   • Vigilance Against Exploitation: Be aware of potential fraud, vandalism, looting, and other criminal activities that may occur during the chaos of a disaster. Implement measures to prevent and respond to such issues.
4. Financial Disbursement
   • Managing Costs: Ensure that funds are available and properly managed to cover the costs of recovery, including paying for alternate sites, repairing damage, and compensating employees.

Key Steps in the Disaster Recovery Process

1. Find Someone to Run the Process
   • Leadership: Assign a competent individual or team to lead the disaster recovery process, ensuring clear accountability and direction.
2. Documenting the Plan
   • Activation and Recovery Procedures: Clearly outline the steps to be taken when activating the disaster recovery plan and during the recovery process.
   • Plan Management: Establish a process for regularly reviewing and updating the disaster recovery plan to ensure its effectiveness.
3. HR Involvement
   • Role of HR: Human Resources should be involved in managing employee relations, coordinating communication, and ensuring staff well-being throughout the disaster recovery process.
4. Costs
   • Budgeting: Prepare a budget for disaster recovery efforts, including costs for alternate sites, equipment, personnel, and other resources.
5. Required Documentation
   • Comprehensive Records: Maintain detailed documentation of the disaster recovery process, including communications, decisions made, and actions taken.
6. Internal/External Communications
   • Priority on Communication: Establish communication channels first to ensure that all stakeholders are informed and coordinated during the recovery process.
   • Critical Business Functions: After establishing communications, prioritize the recovery of the most critical business functions to minimize the impact of the disaster.

Summary

• Recovery Team: Implements the disaster recovery plan and restores critical functions.
• Salvage Team: Restores the primary site to operational conditions.
• Normal Operations Resume Plan: Guides the transition back to the primary site.
• Other Recovery Issues: Involve interfacing with external groups, managing employee relations, preventing fraud, and handling financial disbursements.
• Key Steps: Include leadership assignment, documenting the plan, HR involvement, budgeting, maintaining required documentation, and prioritizing communications and critical functions.

The disaster recovery process is comprehensive and requires careful planning and coordination to ensure that the organization can recover from a disaster with minimal disruption and resume normal operations as quickly as possible.