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Why you should have a disaster recovery testing plan in place

Compiled by:Erin Sullivan
Last updated:November 2019

Editor's note

You've created a thorough, efficient and reliable disaster recovery plan that will protect your organization's data from potential disasters. You've taken all possible threats into account, from weather events to ransomware attacks. That means you're done, right? Not exactly.

Implementing a disaster recovery testing plan is critical to ensure that your recovery efforts work correctly and meet expectations. Disaster recovery testing will inform you if the plan isn't meeting recovery objective requirements, and enable you to make the necessary changes to get things back up and running quickly. A DR test can also point out vulnerabilities that must be addressed.

With the links below, gain a better understanding of why a disaster recovery testing plan is important, how to efficiently conduct tests, and some tools and terms that you will encounter along the way. 

1Do I need to test my DR plan?

Short answer? Yes. For the longer answer, check out the links below. Chief among the benefits of testing is the ability to ensure your plan will work, but that's far from the only reason to run a test of your DR plan. When done properly, a disaster recovery testing plan can keep your recovery strategy updated and even prevent major outages in the future.

2Streamline the testing process

Now that you're settled in for testing, there are numerous best practices and tips for conducting the process in a way that works best for your organization. The links below offer advice for building a comprehensive disaster recovery testing plan or strengthening the one you have.

3Tools that can help

Testing a DR plan doesn't have to be a chore, and it doesn't need to break the bank either. From disaster recovery as a service (DRaaS) options to incorporating backup principles, there are technologies and tools available that can ease the process and make testing a breeze.

4Put these practices to use

There are so many potential recovery scenarios to prepare for that testing all of them can seem daunting. To simplify the process, download our free templates to see outlines for different testing and planning scenarios. Each template provides a thorough outline of what to do to prepare for a disaster, but can be customized to suit your organization..

5Related terms to know

If you're still a little unsure about some of the technologies or processes referenced in this guide, or just looking for a refresh, this glossary of common disaster recovery terms can help.

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