Disaster Recovery Testing Plans: Most Cost-Effective and Efficient Way to Identify Overlap

Most Cost-Effective Disaster Recovery Testing Plan

Question

John works as a security manager for SoftTech Inc.

He is working with his team on the disaster recovery management plan.

One of his team members has a doubt related to the most cost effective DRP testing plan.

According to you, which of the following disaster recovery testing plans is the most cost-effective and efficient way to identify areas of overlap in the plan before conducting more demanding training exercises?

Answers

Explanations

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A. B. C. D.

C.

The most cost-effective and efficient way to identify areas of overlap in a disaster recovery plan (DRP) before conducting more demanding training exercises is a structured walk-through test.

A structured walk-through test is a simulation exercise where team members gather in a conference room and verbally walk through the plan step-by-step. The test is designed to identify areas of overlap in the plan, missing steps, and potential issues that could arise during an actual disaster.

This type of testing is less demanding than a full-scale exercise, which involves a complete simulation of an actual disaster, and requires extensive planning and resources. A walk-through drill is also less effective as it doesn't involve detailed analysis of the DRP, but it can be useful to identify obvious gaps.

An evacuation drill, on the other hand, is a physical exercise that tests how well employees can evacuate the premises in the event of a disaster. While it is a necessary part of DRP testing, it is not the most cost-effective way to identify areas of overlap in the plan.

Therefore, a structured walk-through test is the best option as it allows the team to test the plan's effectiveness, identify gaps, and make necessary changes in a controlled environment without incurring the high costs of a full-scale exercise.