Definition
An IT disaster recovery plan (DRP) is the documented set of procedures, resources and priorities used to restore IT systems and data after a major incident such as hardware failure, fire, flooding or a cyberattack. It is the technical component of business continuity.
What a sound DRP contains
- An inventory of critical systems and their recovery order.
- Measurable targets for each system: RPO and RTO, defining acceptable data loss and recovery time.
- Healthy, accessible backups, which form the foundation of the plan. If they are corrupted, the plan cannot work.
- Tested recovery procedures, not documentation alone.
- Clear roles and a decision chain for the day of an incident.
Why so many DRPs fail during ransomware incidents
Two problems occur repeatedly. First, the backups have been compromised because the attacker targeted the recovery point before the runbook was opened. Second, rebuilding takes days, even when the data is healthy. A DRP is credible only when both issues have been addressed.
Oxibox strengthens the DRP on both fronts with tamper-protected restore points and instant R2V recovery, reducing RTO from several days to minutes for each system. Automated restore tests provide regular evidence that the plan works.