Availability Guide for Problem Management

Planning for Disasters
Availability Guide for Problem Management–125509
8-5
Step 1—Taking Inventory
Step 1—Taking Inventory
As a first step toward preparing a recovery plan, the planning team usually determines
what is at risk and prioritizes the risks. Taking inventory involves answering these
questions:
1. What is at risk? Consider everything that affects computer operations, including
staff, data, equipment, applications, the customer base, and the building.
2. What are affordable data and service losses for your company? How long can your
company function without running each critical application? What is the cost of
downtime for each critical application? What are the intangible costs such as loss of
company image?
3. What types of disasters are most likely to affect computer operations? What is the
level of risk each type of disaster presents? What levels of risk are acceptable?
Figure 8-1. The Disaster Planning Process
CDT 031
1. Gain Support of
Executive Staff
2. Form Planning
Team
3. Take Inventory
4. Develop the Plan
5. Test the Plan
and Train the
Staff
6. Revise and
Update the Plan
as Needed