What is a disaster recovery plan (DRP) designed to do?

A disaster recovery plan (DRP) is specifically designed to recover activities that have been interrupted by emergencies or disasters. This plan outlines the processes, policies, and procedures that an organization must follow to efficiently restore its operations and systems after a significant disruption. A well-structured DRP ensures that critical functions can be quickly resumed and that vital data is preserved, allowing the organization to return to normal operations with minimal downtime.

For instance, in the event of a natural disaster such as a flood or an earthquake, or in cases of a major system failure or cyberattack, the DRP will provide guidance on how to recover data, restore IT infrastructure, and ensure that business operations can continue. This proactive planning is essential for organizations to maintain resilience in the face of unforeseen events, making a timely and effective recovery possible.

While minimizing the impact of cyberattacks or implementing ongoing IT security measures are important aspects of overall risk management and cybersecurity strategy, they do not specifically define the core purpose of a disaster recovery plan. Similarly, upgrading hardware and software continuously is a practice that supports system performance and security but is distinct from the focus of a DRP, which is solely on recovery after a disruption.