The primary objective of recovery planning is to allow a business to survive a disaster and to continue normal business operations. In order to survive, the organization must assure that critical operations can resume/continue normal processing. Throughout the recovery effort, the plan establishes clear lines of authority and prioritizes work efforts. The key objectives of the contingency plan should be to:

• Provide for the safety and well-being of people on the premises at the time of a disaster;
• Continue critical business operations;
• Minimize the duration of a serious disruption to operations and resources (both information processing and other resources);
• Minimize immediate damage and losses;
• Establish management succession and emergency powers;
• Facilitate effective co-ordination of recovery tasks;
• Reduce the complexity of the recovery effort;
• Identify critical lines of business and supporting functions;

Although statistically the probability of a major disaster is remote, the consequences of an occurrence could be catastrophic, both in terms of operational impact and public image. Management appreciates the implications of an occurrence, therefore, it should assign on-going responsibility for recovery planning to an employee dedicated to this essential service.

Management must make a decision to undertake a project that satisfy the following objectives:

• Determine vulnerability to significant service interruptions in the Data Centre and business facilities and define preventive measures that may be taken to minimize the probability and impact of interruptions;
• Identify and analyze the economic, service, public image and other implications of extended service interruptions in the Data Centre and other business facilities;
• Determine immediate, intermediate and extended term recovery needs and resource requirements;
• Identify the alternatives and select the most cost effective approaches for providing backup operations capability and timely service restoration; and
• Develop and implement contingency plans that address both immediate and longer-term needs for the Data Centre and other business facilities.