When a business experiences a disaster, the ability to quickly recover is paramount to its long-term success. That’s why having a comprehensive disaster recovery and business continuity plan is so important. These plans help organizations prepare for the unexpected, protect their data and operations, and ensure that their customers and employees are safe. But what frameworks are available to help organizations develop these plans?
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has developed a number of standards for business continuity and disaster recovery. The primary standard is ISO 22301, which provides a comprehensive approach to developing, implementing, and managing an effective business continuity management system (BCMS). The standard provides guidance on how to identify and assess risks, plan for a response to disasters, and test and maintain the BCMS.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has also developed a number of standards for disaster recovery and business continuity planning. The primary standard is NIST SP 800-34, which provides guidance on developing a BCMS that meets the requirements of ISO 22301. The standard provides a number of best practices for risk assessment, response planning, and testing and maintenance.
In addition to these two standards, there are a number of other frameworks that can be used to develop an effective disaster recovery and business continuity plan. The British Standard Institute (BSI) has developed BS 25999, which is similar to ISO 22301. The Business Continuity Institute (BCI) has developed Good Practice Guidelines (GPG) to provide additional guidance on BCMS development and maintenance.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) also has a number of resources available to assist organizations in developing and implementing a disaster recovery and business continuity plan. The Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) has developed a number of standards for financial institutions, including the FFIEC IT Examination Handbook.
Finally, there are a number of third-party vendors that offer services and products to help organizations develop and maintain a BCMS. These vendors can provide consulting services to assist with the development and implementation of a BCMS, as well as software and hardware products to help manage the BCMS.
No matter which framework or vendor an organization chooses to use, the key is to ensure that the BCMS meets their unique needs and requirements. Having an effective disaster recovery and business continuity plan in place can help organizations protect their data and operations, and ensure they are prepared for any disaster.
