12. AWS PM Success: 50 Checkpoints for AWS IT Resiliency and Disaster Recovery

For my latest article refer to: 11. AWS PM Success: Mastering AWS Project Management: Unleashing Cost Efficiency for Optimal Success

In this article I would like to share:

Title: Comprehensive Checklist for AWS IT Resiliency and Disaster Recovery

In the bottom of this article, I have elaborated on the role of PM to own this activity for successful delivery.

Businesses operating in the cloud understand the critical importance of IT resiliency and disaster recovery, particularly in an environment like Amazon Web Services (AWS).

To effectively address this, a comprehensive checklist of 50 key checkpoints have been developed to guide organizations in bolstering their AWS resiliency and disaster recovery strategies.

These checkpoints have been designed to ensure the alignment of AWS resiliency and disaster recovery plans with industry best practices, business objectives, and regulatory requirements.

Below are 50 checkpoints tailored for an IT Resiliency and Disaster Recovery role focused on AWS (Amazon Web Services):

1. Regularly review and update AWS resiliency and disaster recovery plans in alignment with AWS best practices.

2. Ensure alignment of AWS resiliency and disaster recovery strategies with business objectives and AWS Well-Architected Framework.

3. Conduct comprehensive risk assessments on AWS infrastructure and identify potential vulnerabilities using AWS Config, AWS Security Hub, and other relevant AWS tools.

4. Develop and maintain documentation for AWS resiliency and disaster recovery strategies using AWS CloudFormation and AWS Organizations.

5. Implement and manage resilient AWS architectures in alignment with AWS Lambda, AWS Elastic Load Balancing, and AWS Auto Scaling best practices.

6. Coordinate with AWS and business teams to assess recovery priorities using AWS CloudWatch and AWS CloudTrail.

7. Design and implement failover systems for critical AWS infrastructure using AWS Route 53 and AWS Global Accelerator.

8. Ensure the availability, integrity, and security of critical systems, applications, and data on AWS using AWS IAM, AWS KMS, and AWS WAF.

9. Regularly test the resiliency and disaster recovery plans using AWS Disaster Recovery Testing tools and AWS CloudFormation.

10. Lead the execution of resiliency and disaster recovery strategies during simulated scenarios using AWS Disaster Recovery Playbooks and AWS Backup and Restore.

11. Coordinate with AWS Marketplace vendors to ensure the adequacy of disaster recovery solutions and tools.

12. Develop and maintain documentation on resiliency and disaster recovery procedures using AWS S3 and AWS Systems Manager Documents.

13. Evaluate and recommend AWS resiliency and disaster recovery technologies and tools available in the AWS Marketplace.

14. Establish communication plans for resiliency and disaster recovery processes using AWS Simple Notification Service (SNS) and AWS Chime.

15. Conduct regular training sessions for resiliency and disaster recovery personnel using AWS Training and Certification resources.

16. Maintain compliance with regulatory requirements related to disaster recovery using AWS Artifact and AWS Control Tower.

17. Collaborate with AWS Security Hub to ensure the security of disaster recovery solutions.

18. Conduct regular audits of resiliency and disaster recovery plans and procedures using AWS Security Hub and AWS Config.

19. Coordinate with business units to ensure their AWS IT recovery needs are addressed using AWS Service Catalog and AWS Resource Access Manager.

20. Develop and maintain a business impact analysis framework for AWS workloads using AWS Management and Governance tools. 21. Conduct regular updates of contact information for key personnel during AWS disaster recovery using AWS Directory Service and AWS Single Sign-On.

22. Coordinate with AWS Control Tower for physical security during disaster recovery and AWS Outposts for on-premises infrastructure considerations.

23. Ensure AWS infrastructure dependencies are identified in the recovery plans using AWS Service Catalog and AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store.

24. Document specific procedures for system and application recovery using AWS Systems Manager Run Command and AWS OpsWorks.

25. Collaborate with network teams to ensure connectivity during AWS disaster recovery using AWS Direct Connect and AWS Transit Gateway.

26. Conduct training and awareness activities related to AWS disaster recovery using AWS CloudEndure and AWS Site-to-Site VPN.

27. Coordinate power and cooling requirements for critical AWS infrastructure during disaster recovery using AWS Control Tower.

28. Ensure proper access controls are in place for disaster recovery systems using AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) and AWS Organizations.

29. Develop and maintain a recovery time objective (RTO) and recovery point objective (RPO) framework using AWS Backup and AWS Snow Family.

30. Implement and manage tools for backup and recovery of critical data and applications using AWS Backup and AWS Snow Family.

31. Ensure that data restoration processes are documented and tested regularly using AWS Backup and AWS Snow Family.

32. Establish and maintain relationships with third-party disaster recovery service providers compatible with AWS.

33. Collaborate with legal and regulatory compliance teams for disaster recovery requirements in alignment with AWS Compliance Programs.

34. Coordinate with supply chain teams for disaster recovery of critical AWS resources using AWS Partner Network resources.

35. Develop and maintain a comprehensive inventory of critical AWS assets for recovery using AWS Config and Amazon Macie.

36. Maintain incident response plans in coordination with disaster recovery procedures using AWS Security Hub and AWS Config.

37. Coordinate with customer support teams for communication during AWS disaster recovery using AWS Support resources.

38. Develop and maintain roadmaps for the continual improvement of AWS disaster recovery capabilities using AWS Well-Architected Framework.

39. Coordinate with finance teams for budget planning related to AWS disaster recovery using AWS Cost Management tools.

40. Establish and maintain monitoring mechanisms for AWS disaster recovery systems using AWS CloudWatch and AWS Management and Governance tools.

41. Develop and maintain runbooks for AWS disaster recovery activities using AWS Systems Manager Run Command and AWS Step Functions.

42. Implement and manage configuration management for AWS disaster recovery systems using AWS Systems Manager and AWS CloudFormation.

43. Develop and maintain a comprehensive documentation repository for AWS disaster recovery using AWS S3 and AWS Systems Manager Documents.

44. Ensure that the organization's insurance policies cover disaster recovery scenarios related to AWS using AWS Artifact and AWS Insurance Accelerator.

45. Coordinate with physical security teams for disaster recovery site access using AWS Control Tower and AWS Security Hub.

46. Develop and maintain a robust incident reporting mechanism for AWS disaster recovery using AWS Security Hub and AWS Config.

47. Collaborate with enterprise architecture teams to ensure alignment of AWS disaster recovery with overall IT strategies using AWS CloudFormation and AWS Well-Architected Framework.

48. Coordinate with help desk teams for support during AWS disaster recovery activities using AWS Service Desk Insights and AWS Systems Manager OpsCenter.

49. Document lessons learned from AWS disaster recovery exercises and incidents using AWS Systems Manager Explorer and AWS CloudWatch Logs.

50. Develop and maintain a comprehensive training program for AWS disaster recovery team members using AWS Training and Certification resources.

What is the role of AWS PM in these areas:

The role of an AWS Project Manager (PM) in AWS IT Resiliency and Disaster Recovery involves overseeing and managing the implementation of resiliency and disaster recovery strategies within the AWS environment. Key responsibilities of an AWS PM in this context include:

1. Planning and Coordination: The AWS PM is responsible for planning and coordinating resiliency and disaster recovery projects, ensuring that they align with the organization's overall IT strategy and business objectives.

2. Stakeholder Management: Engaging with various stakeholders, including IT teams, business units, and AWS service providers, to ensure that resiliency and disaster recovery initiatives are well-understood and effectively implemented.

3. Risk Assessment and Mitigation: Collaborating with technical teams to conduct risk assessments on AWS infrastructure and applications, and developing mitigation strategies to address potential vulnerabilities and points of failure.

4. Strategy Development: Working closely with AWS architects and technical teams to develop resilient architectures and disaster recovery plans that leverage AWS services and technologies effectively.

5. Project Execution and Monitoring: Overseeing the execution of resiliency and disaster recovery projects, including regular testing, validation, and monitoring of the effectiveness of the implemented strategies.

6. Compliance and Governance: Ensuring that the resiliency and disaster recovery initiatives adhere to regulatory requirements and industry best practices, including compliance with AWS Well-Architected Framework guidelines.

7. Communication and Reporting: Facilitating transparent communication across teams and providing regular updates to relevant stakeholders on the progress, challenges, and effectiveness of the resiliency and disaster recovery efforts.

8. Collaboration with AWS Support: Engaging with AWS support teams to address technical challenges, optimize AWS services for resiliency, and leverage AWS best practices for disaster recovery.

In summary, the role of an AWS Project Manager in AWS IT Resiliency and Disaster Recovery entails strategic planning, project oversight, risk management, compliance adherence, and effective communication to ensure the resilience and recovery of IT systems within the AWS environment.

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