Disaster Recovery Plans and Site Resiliency

Concept of Site Resiliency

• Separate Facility: Organizations create a disaster recovery plan involving a separate facility.
• Preparation: Includes synchronizing data between primary data center and backup location.
• Failover Process: Moving business processes to alternate location when primary site is unavailable.
• Duration: Can range from hours to weeks or months, depending on disaster severity.
• Reversing Process: Moving back to primary site once disaster is over.

Types of Recovery Sites

Cold Site

• Definition: An empty building with power but no data or personnel.
• Requirements: Organization must provide hardware, applications, data, and transport personnel.

Hot Site

• Definition: An exact replica of the primary data center with duplicate equipment, power systems, and data.
• Data Backup: High-speed connection for constant data backup.
• Advantages: Faster to convert to hot site during disaster.
• Cost: High expense due to duplicate infrastructure.

Warm Site

• Definition: Intermediate option between cold and hot sites.
• Features: May provide rack space, HVAC, some infrastructure, and possibly hardware.
• Requirements: Organization may need to bring applications and data.
• Cost: Lower than hot site, but prep required reflects service costs.
• Suitability: Good for organizations that need quick recovery without high hot site costs.

Cloud Recovery Site

• Existing Infrastructure: Utilizes cloud provider's existing resources.
• Instant Availability: Can quickly move applications and data to cloud services.
• No Physical Facility: Eliminates need for a separate physical location.
• Cost: Based on flat fee or usage; higher usage incurs higher costs.
• Documentation: Requires documented process for provisioning cloud services and data transfer.