Fundamentals to your disaster recovery plan for ISMS ISO27001

ISO certifications at the HealthTech startups

Very often, ISO certifications present startups with major challenges. The limited availability of resources alone is a huge task for some startups and smaller companies that rely on ISO certifications for their approvals and launches.

This Disaster Recovery Plan (DRP) has been developed to ensure the continuity of the organization’s operations in the event of a disaster. The plan is designed to minimize the impact of a disaster on the organization and to restore normal operations as quickly as possible. The plan is in compliance with the requirements of ISO 27001, the international standard for information security management.

1. Identification of critical systems and data:

• Identify and prioritize the systems and data that are essential for the organization’s operations.
• Classify the data based on its level of sensitivity and the potential impact on the organization if it were to be lost or compromised.

2. Risk assessment:

• Conduct a risk assessment to determine the likelihood and impact of potential disasters on the organization’s systems and data.
• Identify the potential risks to the availability, integrity, and confidentiality of the organization’s information assets.
• Develop a disaster recovery plan accordingly, taking into account the risk assessment results.

3. Backup and recovery strategy:

• Establish procedures for regularly backing up systems and data, and for restoring them in the event of a disaster.
• Ensure that backups are stored in a secure location and are protected against unauthorized access and unauthorized changes.
• Test the backup and recovery procedures to ensure that they are effective and that all employees understand their roles and responsibilities.

4. Communication:

• Establish a communication plan for communicating with employees, customers, and other stakeholders in the event of a disaster.
• Ensure that key contacts are identified and that they are aware of their roles and responsibilities in the event of a disaster.
• Establish procedures for communicating with external organizations, such as suppliers and partners, in the event of a disaster.

5. Alternate site:

• Identify an alternate location for the organization to operate from in the event of a disaster.
• Ensure that the alternate site is equipped with the necessary infrastructure and equipment to support the organization’s operations.
• Test the alternate site to ensure that it is ready for use in the event of a disaster.

6. Training:

• Train your employees on the disaster recovery plan and their roles and responsibilities in the event of a disaster.
• Ensure that employees are familiar with the procedures for communicating in the event of a disaster and that they understand their roles and responsibilities.

7. Incident response:

• Have an incident response plan in place to ensure timely and effective response to a disaster.
• Ensure that incident response procedures are in compliance with ISO 27001 requirements.

8. Business continuity:

• Have a plan in place to minimize the disruption of business operations during and after a disaster.
• Ensure that the plan includes procedures for maintaining critical systems and data in the event of a disaster.

9. Compliance with ISO 27001:

• Ensure that the disaster recovery plan is in compliance with the requirements of ISO 27001.
• Ensure that all data is handled and stored in accordance with the ISO 27001 policies and procedures.

10. Review and update:

• Regularly review and update the disaster recovery plan to ensure that it is current and effective.
• Ensure that the plan is reviewed and updated in response to changes in the organization’s operations or in response to new threats and vulnerabilities.

11. Monitoring:

• Monitor the disaster recovery plan to ensure that it is running correctly and that any errors are reported in a timely manner.
• Ensure that the plan is tested regularly to identify and resolve any issues.

12. Documentation:

• Document all the procedures and steps of the disaster recovery plan, and ensure that all employees are familiar with the document and understand their roles and responsibilities.
• Keep the disaster recovery plan document up-to-date and store it in a secure location, accessible to authorized personnel only.

13. Testing:

• Conduct regular testing of the disaster recovery plan to ensure its effectiveness.
• Perform full-scale tests of the plan at least once a year, and conduct smaller tests or drills more frequently.
• Record the results of all tests and drills, and use them to identify areas for improvement.

14. Maintenance:

• Ensure that all equipment and systems necessary for the disaster recovery plan are properly maintained and updated.
• Regularly review and update the plan to reflect any changes in the organization’s operations or in response to new threats and vulnerabilities.
• Perform regular backups of critical systems and data and test the recovery procedures to ensure they are working correctly.

15. Auditing:

• Regularly audit the disaster recovery plan to ensure that it meets ISO 27001 requirements.
• Use the results of the audit to identify areas for improvement and make any necessary changes to the plan.

16. Leadership:

• Ensure that there is a designated leader responsible for the disaster recovery plan and that they have the authority and resources to implement it in the event of a disaster.
• Ensure that the leader is trained and experienced in incident response and disaster recovery.

17. Third-Party Services:

• Identify any third-party services used by the organization and assess their disaster recovery capabilities.
• Ensure that contracts with third-party service providers include provisions for disaster recovery and that their plans align with the organization’s plan.

18. Review and Approval:

• Review and approve the disaster recovery plan by senior management and the relevant stakeholders.
• Ensure that the plan is reviewed and approved at least once a year, or more frequently if there are significant changes to the organization’s operations.

By following this Disaster Recovery Plan, the organization can ensure that it is prepared to respond to a disaster and minimize its impact on the organization’s operations. By complying with ISO 27001 requirements, the organization can ensure that the plan is effective in protecting the availability, integrity, and confidentiality of the organization’s information assets.

Reza Rezvani — January 2023