Exam Essentials: Chapter 18

Chapter 18: Disaster Recovery Planning

Know the common types of natural disasters that may threaten an organisation

• Natural disasters that commonly threaten organisations include:
  • earthquakes
  • floods
  • storms
  • fires
  • tsunamis
  • volcanic eruptions.

Know the common types of man-made disasters that may threaten an organisation

• Explosions
• Electrical fires
• Terrorist acts
• Power outages & other utility failures
• Infrastructure failures
• Hardware/software failures
• Labour difficulties
• Theft
• Vandalism

Be familiar with the common types of recovery facilities [TODO]

• The common types of recovery facilities are:
  • cold sites
  • warm sites
  • hot sites
  • mobile sites
  • service bureaus
  • multiple sites
• Be sure you understand the benefits & drawbacks for each.

Explain the potential benefits behind mutual assistance agreements as well as the reasons they are not commonly implemented in businesses today

• Mutual assistance agreements (MAAs) provide an inexpensive alternative to DR sites, but they are not commonly used because they are difficult to enforce.
• Organisations participating in an MAA may also be shut down by the same disaster.
• Additionally, MAAs raise confidentiality concerns.

Understand the technologies that may assist with database backup

• Databases benefit from three backup techologies:
  • Electronic vaulting is used to transfer DB backups to a remote site as part of a bulk transder.
  • In remote journalling, data transfers occur on a more frequent basis.
  • With remote mirroring technology, database transactions are mirrored at the backup site in real time.

Know the five types of DR plan tests and the impact each has on normal business operations

• The five types of DR plan tests are:
  • read-through (checklist)
  • structured walk-through
  • simulation test
  • parallel test
  • full-interruption test
• Checklist tests are purely paperwork exercises, whereas structured walk-throughs involve a project team meeting. Neither has an impact on business operations.
• Simulation tests may shut down non-critical business units.
• Parallel tests involve relocating personnel but do not affect day-to-day operations.
• Full-interruption tests involve shutting down primary systems and shifting responsibility to the recover facility.