Know the 9 Critical Disaster Recovery Scenarios to Test
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Disaster recovery testing helps to ensure that businesses can effectively recover from an operational disruption. But knowing which disaster recovery scenarios to test can be tricky, especially when some threats seem to be constantly evolving.
Should you only test for scenarios that affect your IT systems? Only your data backup systems?
What about recovery plans for a pandemic? For example, what if you face staffing shortages, supply-chain disruptions or shelter-in-place orders that require your workers to work remotely?
In truth, there are endless disaster recovery scenarios to test if you want to be 100% prepared for every imaginable situation. But not all businesses have the resources or time for such robust testing. So let’s look at some of the most crucial scenarios to test for.
Which disaster recovery scenarios to test for?
1) Data loss & backup recovery
This is one of the most important disaster recovery scenarios to test for. When data loss occurs, it’s vital that your business is able to quickly restore it from a backup. That’s true whether a single file has been deleted or an entire server has failed. If data can’t be restored, then the situation could become a costly nightmare.
So, what exactly do you test?
First and foremost, you want to test that your backups are viable and can be restored. Run tests on both file-level restores and full machine recoveries to ensure that both can be completed in a real-world event.
Some things to consider after this testing:
All tests should be well documented. If issues arise that call for changes to the recovery process (including technology deployments, protocols or even the testing scenarios themselves), then the disaster recovery plan should be updated accordingly.
2) Failed backups
What happens when a backup can’t be restored? This is a common situation for businesses that rely on traditional incremental backups, because of the data corruption that can occur in the backup chain. So, it’s another important scenario that businesses should test for.
Testing for a failed backup typically involves two types of response:
If a secondary backup is available and can be quickly restored, that is usually preferable over spending time trying to “fix” or reconstruct the failed backup.
Restoring from another backup will require its own set of additional testing scenarios.
Example tests:
Some data backup systems will of course have additional restore options, such as the Rapid Rollback option on the Datto SIRIS (a feature that lets you undo widespread file changes, such as those caused by ransomware). Since each BC/DR solution is unique, you’ll want to periodically test every possible recovery method to ensure those options are actually usable in a real disaster.
3) Backup verification testing
Manually testing your backups is always a good idea, but it also can be time-consuming. Many backup systems now feature automated backup verification / validation checks that make this process more efficient.
The purpose of backup verification is to verify that a backup can actually be restored. It automates the testing process, checking each new backup for signs of data corruption or any other issues that could impede the recovery process.
While verification testing is designed to be automatic, it still requires oversight. Some things to consider:
4) Network interruptions & outages
A prolonged network outage can be just as disruptive as a data-loss event. When the network goes down—or even if a single workstation suddenly can’t connect—IT managers must react quickly.
Testing your preparedness for network interruptions is the best way to ensure that you’ll be able to rapidly resolve issues when they actually occur. There are a variety of network testing tools that can help to simulate common disaster scenarios.
Example tests include:
Remember, these tests should never be limited to just software-based testing. It’s critical that network administrators routinely test these disaster recovery scenarios and actually go through the recovery protocols to ensure that they know exactly what to do during a real disruption.
5) Hardware failure
Hardware failure is one of the most common causes of data loss and operational disruptions, but how do you test for it?
Above, we touched on the importance of backup and recovery testing. But that’s specific to the data. How quickly will you be able to repair or replace the bad hardware? The answer largely depends on how well your recovery teams have prepared for this scenario.
All of these questions relate to processes that should be routinely reviewed and tested. Restoring lost data is only the first part of this disaster scenario. A full recovery of the hardware and associated systems is critical for maintaining business continuity, which is why testing all recovery protocols is so essential.
6) Utility outages
Another important disaster recovery scenario to test is a sudden loss of electricity or other utilities. These scenarios are most common during severe weather and other natural disasters, but they can happen for a number of reasons.
Who can forget the NYC blackout in 2019 or the massive 2003 blackout that left large swaths of the Northeast without power?
When these and other everyday brownouts occur, businesses are usually at the mercy of the utility provider to restore power. But that doesn’t mean they can’t do anything. The costs of a power outage can quickly skyrocket, so every attempt should be made to restore operations through other means.
At the first signs of a utility disruption, recovery teams should be quick to work:
Each one of these protocols should be routinely reviewed and tested to ensure that recovery teams are prepared to act swiftly and know exactly what to do when an outage occurs.
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7) On-site threats & physical dangers
There are a number of disaster scenarios that can be extremely harmful to your employees and operations—and yet have little to do with your IT systems. This is why disaster recovery testing (and business continuity testing) should not be strictly limited to IT.
What if the business faces an active-shooter situation? How should employees protect themselves? Where do they go for safety?
Testing for different crisis scenarios can greatly reduce the risk of harm to your most valuable asset: your people. And by protecting your employees, you also protect your operations.
Tests to consider:
A fire drill is perhaps the most common form of testing for an on-site emergency and in some areas these drills are required by law for certain types of commercial buildings. However, fires aren’t the only scenario that employees should be prepared for, especially in larger buildings.
Routine training should be conducted to educate employees on how to safely respond to all the on-site dangers identified in your disaster recovery plan. When employees know what to do in an emergency, they are at far less risk of harm. That’s good for their wellbeing of course, but it’s also good for the business.
8) Workforce interruptions
What happens when employees can’t make it to work? This could be a situation like COVID-19, in which a viral outbreak forces workers to stay home. Or, it could be a number of other disaster scenarios:
Whatever the scenario, businesses can face a severe operational disruption if workers aren’t able to do their jobs. So, having a Plan B is essential.
In response to the coronavirus pandemic, businesses rapidly shifted to remote work, but many were unprepared to do so in an effective way. Stressed IT systems caused additional roadblocks and increased cybersecurity risks. Many companies also lacked the tools to streamline their remote workers, which hurt productivity even further.
This is where testing can help deliver far better outcomes. Businesses need to routinely evaluate their preparedness for a sudden workforce interruption and put those protocols to the test. That could involve:
Essentially, any process or system that will be used in response to a workforce interruption should be tested.
9) Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity threats are constantly evolving, so it’s important to test your safeguards on a regular basis. Routine testing helps ensure that your cybersecurity systems will effectively detect and block known threats.
Some of the disaster recovery scenarios listed above will naturally be part of this testing, such as backup validation and network testing. But in addition to those tests, you’ll want to confirm that your cybersecurity systems are solid. This means running tests for not only full-blown cyberattacks, but also the myriad “little” threats that businesses face every day, such as malware infections via web, email and vulnerable software.
A comprehensive cybersecurity testing strategy can include:
· Security audit: An extensive review of existing software, hardware and security policies to identify overall cybersecurity strength.
· Penetration tests: Mock cyberattacks conducted internally (or by third-party cybersecurity firms) to test whether malware or hackers can penetrate your systems.
· Vulnerability assessment: A comprehensive assessment of deployed systems to identify vulnerabilities, gaps and weaknesses, sometimes via routine automated scans.
· Social engineering tests: Mock social engineering attacks, such as phishing emails, conducted internally to test how employees respond and how easily they can be deceived by such methods.
In tandem with your cybersecurity training, businesses should conduct routine cybersecurity training for all employees. The objective of this training is to educate all personnel on safe practices for Internet and email. Employees should be trained on how to identify a suspicious email and what to do with it. This training should ideally be conducted for new hires as part of their onboarding process, in addition to yearly training for all employees.
Cybersecurity training is one of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of an attack due to human error.
Frequently asked questions about disaster recovery testing
The examples above are just a few scenarios that organizations should test on a regular basis. For most businesses, there are likely numerous other scenarios that require testing, as identified by the risk assessment in the business continuity plan or disaster recovery plan. To recap some of the key points above, here are some common questions about the DR testing process:
1. What is disaster recovery (with example)?
Disaster recovery is a planning framework that helps to ensure that a business can withstand a disaster. One example of a disaster recovery strategy is data backup, which helps businesses recover lost data after accidental deletion or a cyberattack such as ransomware.
The goal of disaster recovery is to equip an organization with the tools and procedures to rapidly restore operations after a disruption.
2. What is a disaster scenario?
For businesses, a disaster scenario is any event that causes a disruption to operations. These scenarios can involve IT systems, such as server failure, or physical infrastructure, such as building damage from a flood or fire.
Every business is at risk of many disaster scenarios. As such, these scenarios should be identified with a risk assessment as part of an organization’s disaster recovery plan. This ensures businesses understand the impact of possible threats and can prepare for them accordingly.
3. What do you test for disaster recovery?
Disaster recovery testing should include the testing of business-critical IT systems and recovery procedures. This can include the testing of backup systems, network systems, backup power generators and emergency response drills.
As a rule of thumb, if a system or process affects whether the business can sustain operations in a disaster, then it should be tested for disaster recovery.
4. How often should disaster recovery plans be tested?
Disaster recovery plans should be reviewed and updated yearly. However, some systems and procedures should be tested more frequently. For example, data backups should be tested for integrity and recoverability at least once a week.
If the backups have automatic testing, this should be scheduled to run following the completion of each new backup. Additional tests for various restore methods, such as local and off-site virtualizations, should also be conducted monthly.
5. Why is disaster recovery testing important?
Testing is an important part of disaster recovery because it ensures that a business can successfully recover from a disaster. It provides confirmation that recovery systems and procedures are effective, in addition to uncovering potential errors, gaps or weaknesses that would hinder the recovery process.
Routine testing is the only way to guarantee that a business can recover from an operational disruption.
Conclusion
Identifying which disaster recovery scenarios to test is an integral part of business continuity planning. By testing various disaster scenarios on a regular basis, businesses can ensure that they have the systems and procedures in place to recover from a real disruption. This testing should include, but is not limited to, scenarios that involve data loss, failed backups, network outages, cyberattacks, hardware failure, on-site emergencies and workforce interruptions.
Routine testing reduces risk and confirms that the strategies outlined in a disaster recovery plan will be effective in a real disaster.