Sep 10, 2024 | Blogs, Resources

Why Your Disaster Recovery Plan (DRP) Needs Regular Testing

Regularly testing your disaster recovery plan (DRP) is essential to ensure reliable security, efficient recovery, and seamless business continuity. Ransomware attacks are increasing, remote work poses challenges, and supply chain issues are everywhere. Testing DR helps mitigate the impact of these cloud security threats.  

Would you leave your front door unlocked or knowingly put yourself at risk of fire or flood damage? Of course not. Because smart homeowners take precautions to protect their property.  

However, unforeseen events and disasters can still happen. That’s why it’s important for homeowners to invest in insurance, keep a record of their assets, and have a plan in place to recover stolen items. These measures must be regularly tested to ensure they work when needed. 

The same goes for smart organizations. They know that having a disaster recovery plan is crucial for protecting their digital assets in the cloud. Regular testing of these plans is key to effective data protection and mitigating the impact of human error. 

Backup or backed up? How much downtime can your business operations afford?  

Human error, cyberattacks, and natural forces can interrupt business, cause data loss, stall operations, and even endanger lives. According to Verizon, more than 80 percent of data breaches involve external actors, and 74 percent involve the human element.i Ensuring your DRP is regularly tested can reduce the risks posed by human error and other threats. 

As hackers become smarter—and more malicious—experts now consider a cyberattack inevitable.ii “By all indications, the problem is not going away and may even be accelerating in 2024,” a recent Wired article warns. “According to a report by security firm Mandiant, 2023 was a record-breaking year for ransomware….victims paid more than $1 billion to gangs—and those are just the payments that we know about.”iii  

Fast facts about data loss and backups  

If you think regular backups are enough protection for your cloud security and DRP, think again. A Veeam Insights 2024 report found that:  

  • 96% of ransomware attacks targeted backup repositories.  
  • Only 14% of organizations were able to recover their data without paying a ransom  
  • 24% of those that paid a ransom never recovered their data, and  
  • 63% of organizations run the risk of re‑infection during restoration. iv    

Many organizations believe their cloud service provider keeps them safe. That’s a risky assumption.  

A recent InfoWorld article warns us about common misconceptions when it comes to responsibility for cloud security and a disaster recovery plan (DRP). “Equally common is the assumption that those charged with keeping cloud systems working and safe would have a handle on this problem by now. There are too many cases where that assumption is incorrect.” v  

Downtime—for any reason—is costly. Studies have shown that one hour of interruption can cost an organization over $300,000, and almost 70 percent report that their business would fail in one day without a functioning IT system. vi  

 It’s time to shift away from prevention alone and focus on preparation and recovery with a secure and regularly tested DRP.   

What is a disaster recovery plan? An existential guide to business operations and business continuity planning  

Defining your disaster recovery plan and protection strategies is the most secure way to protect your organization from data loss and business continuity interruption. A DRP provides a documented, structured guide on how to resume operations rapidly after an unexpected incident and is an essential component of a business continuity plan.  

A DRP will include procedures for mitigating the effects of cyberattack, human error, natural disaster, or system error on business operations that depend upon uninterrupted IT capabilities. Its aims are to prevent, mitigate, and recover from data loss and restore system functionality after an incident.   

An effective DRP is a roadmap to recovery that includes:   

  1. Steps to minimize the impact of a disaster so the organization can resume operations or return to mission-critical functions.    
  2. An analysis of business processes and continuity needs to establish mission-critical procedures, recovery objectives, and risk analysis.    
  3. Steps to reduce downtime and minimize financial and reputational damages.   
  4. Guidelines on how to meet compliance requirements.   
  5. Directions on how to establish alternative means of operation.    

An effective disaster recovery plan is the foundation of business continuity and essential for digital transformation, reducing downtime, ensuring the security of users, and reducing losses. It can save your business and protect your customers, but despite of the crucial nature of a DRP, only 54 percent of organizations have a plan in place, and even fewer have a comprehensive plan that has gone through rigorous and regular testing procedures. vii  

Testing, testing…is anyone protecting your digital home? Why testing DR is critical to rapid recovery  

Studies show that 7 percent of organizations don’t test their DRP at all, and that’s a huge risk. viii If your home or neighbourhood was threatened by fire or flood, you’d want to act fast, with a comprehensive, well-prepared plan. When your digital security is at risk, every second counts—and the clock ticks faster during downtime, posing an existential risk to your business.  

When the worst happens, your team must be prepared to act fast—and not waste precious time thumbing through a manual. They need DRP training so they know what to do and can act quickly in an emergency, and you need to know that the right technology is in place to detect and mitigate disaster, preventing further data loss. These processes must be regularly tested to ensure their effectiveness. 

Here’s why testing DR is crucial:  

  1. Ensures effectiveness  
    Verification: Regular testing confirms that the DRP works as intended, revealing any flaws before a real disaster occurs.  
    Validation: Tests validate that recovery procedures are accurate and functional in practice, not just on paper.  
  2. Identifies gaps and weaknesses  
  3. Uncovering issues: Testing exposes gaps in the plan, such as outdated procedures or incomplete contact lists.  
  4. Continuous improvement: It provides insights into areas needing enhancement, ensuring the plan evolves with organizational changes.  
  5.  Maintains alignment with business goals  
  6. Adaptation: Regular testing ensures the DRP aligns with current business operations and objectives.
  7. Scalability: It confirms that the plan scales with business growth and changes in technology or infrastructure.  

Key benefits of DRP testing  

  1. Minimizes downtime:   
     Quick restoration: Testing helps streamline recovery processes, reducing the time needed to restore operations.   
    Operational continuity: Effective testing minimizes disruptions, ensuring business functions resume swiftly.   
  1. Improves recovery speed   
    Efficiency: Regular practice refines recovery procedures, leading to faster and more efficient response times during actual disruptions.  
    Preparedness: Teams become familiar with their roles and responsibilities, speeding up the recovery process.  
  1. Enhances confidence   
    Stakeholder assurance: Demonstrating a reliable DRP through testing boosts confidence among stakeholders, customers, and employees.   
    Team readiness: Staff gain confidence in their ability to handle real-life emergencies, improving overall morale.    

DRP testing best practices  

  1. Schedule regular tests  
    Routine checks: Establish a testing schedule based on risk assessments and business requirements (e.g., quarterly, bi-annually).  
    Update frequency: Adjust the testing schedule to reflect significant changes in business operations or infrastructure.  
  2. Simulate realistic scenarios  
  3. Realistic drills: Conduct tests that mimic potential disaster scenarios, including cyberattacks, natural disasters, and system failures.  
  4. Comprehensive testing: Test all critical systems and processes, ensuring the plan addresses various types of disruptions.  
  5.  Involve all stakeholders  
  6. Broad participation: Include key personnel from all relevant departments to ensure that everyone understands their roles during a crisis.  
  7. Clear roles: Define and communicate roles and responsibilities clearly, ensuring smooth coordination during actual events.  
  8. Document and review results  
  9. Detailed records: Maintain thorough documentation of test outcomes, including what worked well and what needs improvement.  
  10. Post-test review: Conduct debriefings to analyze results, identify lessons learned, and update the DRP accordingly.  

Common pitfalls to avoid in your disaster recovery plan   

  1. Infrequent testing 

Avoid gaps: Ensure tests are conducted regularly to prevent outdated procedures and unpreparedness.  

Timely updates: Make adjustments based on the latest business changes and emerging threats.  

  1.  Ignoring test results  

Act on feedback: Address issues identified during tests rather than postponing fixes, ensuring continuous improvement.  

Track progress: Monitor the implementation of corrective actions to enhance the DRP’s effectiveness.  

  1. Lack of communication  

Transparent communication: Clearly communicate testing plans and results to all stakeholders, ensuring alignment and preparedness.  

Feedback loop: Foster a culture of open communication regarding test outcomes and improvement plans.  

Safety in the cloud—A disaster recovery plan protects your finances and your reputation  

Developing, documenting, and testing a rigorous process for preventing and responding to cyber disaster is good business. By outlining your DRP in a structured, tested, and evolving guideline, you significantly reduce your risk and liability in the event of cyberattack or other data loss.  

Events that impact your cloud security do happen, but cloud-smart planning can reduce their occurrence from disastrous to a blip on the business radar—so you can get back to business fast and with minimal customer impact.  

Learn more about data protection and cloud security best practices and their roles in digital transformation.

And if you want more information navigating disaster recovery, check out our action ransomware action plan: https://thinkon.com/survival-guide-to-ransomware-attacks/

[i] Verizon Business. 2024. https://www.verizon.com/business/resources/reports/dbir/ 

[ii] Invenio IT. 2024. Dale Shulmistra. “2024 Disaster Recovery Statistics That Prove You’re at Risk.” https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/2024-disaster-recovery-statistics-prove-youre-risk-dale-shulmistra-kzqwe/ 

iii Wired. 2024. “Ransomware is More Brutal than Ever in 2024.” https://www.wired.com/story/state-of-ransomware-2024/ 

[iv] Veeam Ransomware Trends Report. 2024. https://go.veeam.com/ransomware-trends-executive-summary-2024-na 

[v] InfoWorld. 2023. David Linthicum. “Disaster recovery in the cloud.” https://www.infoworld.com/article/2338546/disaster-recovery-in-the-cloud-2.html 

[vi] Invenio IT. 2024. Dale Shulmistra. “2024 Disaster Recovery Statistics That Prove You’re at Risk.” https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/2024-disaster-recovery-statistics-prove-youre-risk-dale-shulmistra-kzqwe/ 

[vii] Ibid. 

[viii] Ibid. 

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