A disaster recovery plan is a documented, structured approach that outlines the processes to follow when a technology-related disaster occurs, such as a cyberattack, hardware failure, or natural catastrophe. The plan includes details on restoring vital technology operations, data recovery, emergency response procedures, and communication channels.
A disaster recovery plan can be a part of the service level agreement and is crucial in maintaining the company's reputation. It's essential for technology companies because the rapid recovery of data and system functionality is critical to maintaining business continuity and minimizing financial losses. The absence of a well-defined disaster recovery plan can lead to prolonged system downtimes, loss of data integrity, legal liabilities, and erosion of customer trust.