The Disaster Recovery Handbook, 3rd Edition

13

TESTING YOUR PLANS

Test, Test, Test

Action is the foundational key to all success.

—PABLO PICASSO

INTRODUCTION

Writing a recovery plan is only half of the challenge. The second half, the real challenge, is to periodically test it. Everyone can relate to writing a recovery plan. “Testing” a plan sounds like you do not trust it. Testing requires expensive technician time, the equipment and facility resources to conduct a test, and the expertise to plan the exercise. Gathering all of this into one place can be difficult.

Arranging for expensive technician time was tough enough to secure for writing the plans. The most knowledgeable people are usually the busiest. Getting them to give the time to sit down long enough to test a plan is difficult—yet ...