Business Continuity Strategies: Protecting Against Unplanned Disasters, 3rd Edition

Chapter 7. Conceptual Business Continuity Strategies for Loss of Computer Operations

Policy and Strategy

Policy

The contingency program policy is to: (1) ensure an organized and effective response to an isolated disaster that would render telephone communications, remote date communications, and/or computer equipment inaccessible or inoperative; and (2) ensure business continuity for business functions dependent on computer technology, until normal computer processing capability is restored.

Strategy

The strategy follows.

• Ensure all relevant computer software and databases are duplicated and stored in a secure off-site location for use in recovery.

• Provide interim processing strategies to support essential business functions and maintain cash flow during a computer disaster recovery period.

• Identify responsibility to restore voice communications in the event of a loss of telephone service.

• Document computer equipment recovery strategy.

• Provide for program maintenance for environmental and systems changes.

Executive Summary

The disaster recovery and business continuation program is designed to protect against the sudden loss of telephone communications, data communications, and/or computer processing capability through disasters such as fire, water, explosion, aircraft accident, or sabotage. Experience indicates that the probability that such a disaster might occur to a given installation is extremely remote. However, due to present and planned dependency on computer processing, interim processing ...