1 First Example of a Good Answer: A disaster recovery plan recovers technology platforms and associated technology functions i.e. servers, mainframes and networks. Writing and testing a disaster recovery plan is one of the key elements of business continuity management. Traditionally business continuity and disaster recovery planning have always been separated between the business and the information technology department. A disaster recovery plan should interface with the overall business continuity management plan, be clear and concise, focus on the key activities required to recover the critical IT services, be tested reviewed and updated on a regular basis, have an owner, and enable the recovery objectives to be met. The owner is responsible for all the activities which are held at organization and if any disaster occurred, he has to plan according to the situation and he has to prepare a disaster recovery plan to the organization. The owner has different responsibilities and he has to take care of the members who are working in the organization to prepare a disaster recovery plan. Some of the responsibilities include the following: 1. The recovery plan owner will take direct responsibility to plan, coordinate, document, test and manage the disaster Recovery efforts. Owner is also responsible and accountable to ensure all committed activities and deliverables are performed with satisfaction. 2. The owner has to perform risk analysis for functional areas to identify points of vulnerability, single points of failure and identify risk avoidance and mitigation strategies. 3. The owner has to provide training for his staff if they need know any concepts. 4. Owner should be dedicated to his work. An efficient and hardworking owner will make the business successful. In the case of a small business, owners should plan for such eventuality and have a contingency action plan that would enable them to relocate re-source-suppliers and continue their services to their customers. Even in cases when there are only walk-ins and the customers are transients, a disaster recovery plan can provide valuable information to those end-users, clients and the dependents of those businesses services; an alternative way to have those services available to them in an uninterrupted manner. Disasters caused by natural calamities will arise suddenly. In case, if recovery plan is not made in advance, it will lead to severe disasters. Owner should be able to reach all his team members and should implement emergency plans even during sudden disasters. Owner should make fast and spontaneous recovery decisions. Finally I want to conclude that, owner plays a key role in a disaster recovery plan because he is responsible for running the whole organization in a structured manner. Second Example of a Good Answer: Disaster recovery plan describes how an organization is to deal with potential disasters. Just as a disaster is an event that.

1. 1
First Example of a Good Answer:
A disaster recovery plan recovers technology platforms and
associated technology functions i.e. servers, mainframes and
networks. Writing and testing a disaster recovery plan is one of
the key elements of business continuity management.
Traditionally business continuity and disaster recovery planning
have always been separated between the business and the
information technology department. A disaster recovery plan
should interface with the overall business continuity
management plan, be clear and concise, focus on the key
activities required to recover the critical IT services, be tested
reviewed and updated on a regular basis, have an owner, and
enable the recovery objectives to be met.
The owner is responsible for all the activities which are held at
organization and if any disaster occurred, he has to plan
according to the situation and he has to prepare a disaster
recovery plan to the organization. The owner has different
responsibilities and he has to take care of the members who are
working in the organization to prepare a disaster recovery plan.
Some of the responsibilities include the following:
1. The recovery plan owner will take direct responsibility to
plan, coordinate, document, test and manage the disaster
Recovery efforts. Owner is also responsible and accountable to
ensure all committed activities and deliverables are performed
with satisfaction.
2. The owner has to perform risk analysis for functional
areas to identify points of vulnerability, single points of failure
and identify risk avoidance and mitigation strategies.
3. The owner has to provide training for his staff if they

2. need know any concepts.
4. Owner should be dedicated to his work. An efficient and
hardworking owner will make the business successful.
In the case of a small business, owners should plan for such
eventuality and have a contingency action plan that would
enable them to relocate re-source-suppliers and continue their
services to their customers. Even in cases when there are only
walk-ins and the customers are transients, a disaster recovery
plan can provide valuable information to those end-users,
clients and the dependents of those businesses services; an
alternative way to have those services available to them in an
uninterrupted manner. Disasters caused by natural calamities
will arise suddenly. In case, if recovery plan is not made in
advance, it will lead to severe disasters. Owner should be able
to reach all his team members and should implement emergency
plans even during sudden disasters. Owner should make fast and
spontaneous recovery decisions.
Finally I want to conclude that, owner plays a key role in a
disaster recovery plan because he is responsible for running the
whole organization in a structured manner.
Second Example of a Good Answer:
Disaster recovery plan describes how an organization is to
deal with potential disasters. Just as a disaster is an event that
makes the continuation of normal functions impossible, a
disaster recovery plan consists of the precautions taken so that
the effects of a disaster will be minimized and the organization
will be able to either maintain or quickly resume mission
critical functions. Typically, disaster recovery planning
involves an analysis of business processes and continuity needs,

3. it may also include a significant focus on disaster prevention.
The first step in creating a disaster recovery plan
is to make a list of all the office jobs that would have to be
relocated to an alternate location so the business can continue to
run. Mark each job with a star (or asterisk) that you would
consider critical if you were in a disaster recovery mode. In
other words, which jobs do you need up and functioning as soon
as possible. For example, customer service representatives and
accounting personnel should be marked as critical, while
telemarketing people making outbound sales calls should not.
One needs to ask the question as to who
should be designated as the leaders or owners of such plans.
Ideally speaking the Disaster Recovery involves critical
business functions or IT functions. Therefore the primary
ownership should lie with the Business Managers who are
responsible for the particular function in the Organization. IT
Director, Finance Director or other Business Managers in
charge of a business Unit would become responsible in their
respective areas. Apart from this direct ownership, the senior
management too needs to get involved and own the recovery
plans and as such they should get involved in monitoring the
situation and assisting with decision making and any other way
required.
The disaster recovery planning project isn't over until the final
report is given to the stakeholders and upper management.
Report on the success of each step in the project as indicated by
the measurement of Key Performance Indicators that were
originally defined. Present your budget versus actual spending
report and explain why you went over or under budget. This will
bring the project to closure and bring recognition to those who
participated.
In case of Crisis management, depending upon the

4. nature of crisis and the extent of damage, either the Business
Managers or the Senior Management would be required to take
charge. In case of any emergency or crisis effecting the entire
organization and involves dealing with external agencies, media
and other legal formalities etc, the senior management of the
Organization would need to step in and take charge of the
situation assisted duly by the Business managers and other
designated officials as per the plan.
Responsibilities and Role of the Designated Ownership:
In helps to define the responsibilities and the role of the
Recovery Plan owners to ensure clarity of the concept.
First and foremost the designated leadership needs to be
able to understand the gravity of the situation, the extent of
damage and loss including financial, revenue loss as well as the
loss of reputation and how it affects the market, for this would
help him take the right decisions required to protect his
organization and eliminate the risk or direct recovery program.
Secondly, it becomes the responsibility of the designated owner
to own the plan, to budget, obtain approval, provide and keep
ready the necessary resources including hardware and other
proposed solutions in stock.
Thirdly, the owner plans and provides for the required
manpower resources, monitors and ensures trails and mock
drills regularly to ensure alertness and preparedness at all times.
Apart from the knowledge and
responsibilities assigned to the designated owner of the Disaster
Recovery plans, it is important that he be invested with the
required authority and powers to own the program and discharge
his duties when required to do so. Once developed and tested,
you should present your disaster recovery plan to the owners

5. and/or board of directors. Record any and all feedback and
make sure it is addressed in the revised plan. If they are more
apprehensive after you present your disaster recovery plan, you
need to revisit each and every item before you present it again.
Many plans are written and few are ever updated. Even fewer
are ever tested. A disaster recovery plan that was written five
years ago when your business was half the size is not going to
allow a rapid recovery. Review the plan every year to insure
new aspects of the business are covered. Test the plan at least
every two years. Pick a Saturday and pretend that you have to
bring back the office operations in less than 24 hours. You don't
have to physically do it, but sitting around a table offsite
without any access to any resources in the office can shed a lot
of light on your disaster recovery plan's inadequacies.
As the entire reasonability of getting the
business back on its feet depends upon the designated owner,
Organizations may designate a suitable senior management
person with proven capabilities or form a team to own the plans
and responsibilities.