recoveryplanning

Recovery planning is the structured process of preparing for and coordinating actions to restore essential operations and services after a disruptive event. It seeks to minimize impact on people, assets, operations, and reputation by ensuring quick restoration of critical functions.

A recovery plan typically covers critical functions, recovery objectives such as RTO and RPO, roles and responsibilities, communication protocols, resource inventories, and step-by-step recovery procedures. It aligns with broader resilience efforts like business continuity and disaster recovery and is applicable to organizations across sectors, including IT, healthcare, manufacturing, and public sector.

Key components include risk assessment and business impact analysis to identify critical processes; selection of recovery strategies (e.g., backups, redundant systems, alternate facilities); plan development; training and awareness; testing and exercises; and maintenance with regular updates.

Standards and frameworks often referenced include ISO 22301 for business continuity management, NFPA 1600, and guidance from NIST SP 800-34 on contingency planning. Effective recovery planning relies on governance, funding, and collaboration across departments, and success depends on regular drills and continuous improvement.