Disaster Recovery Basics

1. Diagram your current network and identify each network device. How critical is each device?
 
2. Assuming you have a DR network, how does it differ from your current network? Can it handle the load that will be put on it if a disaster occurs? Do you have adequate network documentation for the DR network?

3. How often is your DR plan tested?

4. Has proper network resiliency been taken into account for the production network?
5. What about voice communications? Are you using VoIP?

6. Implement a process whereby the DR plan is updated when any new network equipment is implemented or network changes are made. This will keep your DR plan always up to date.

7. Make sure you patch and upgrade DR equipment, just as you do other network equipment.
Don’t forget about network security when you have a disaster. You don’t want to get your DR network up after 24 hours of work only to have it brought down by a virus. You must think about security because users won’t.