Disaster recovery (DR) is the process of restoring IT systems and infrastructure to a pre-disaster state after a breach or failure. The process typically includes the following steps:

1. Assessment: The first step in disaster recovery is to assess the extent of the damage caused by the breach or failure. This includes identifying which systems and data have been affected, and determining the level of criticality of each.
2. Containment: Once the extent of the damage has been assessed, the next step is to contain the breach or failure to prevent further damage. This may involve shutting down systems, disconnecting from networks, or implementing other measures to prevent the spread of malware or other malicious software.
3. Eradication: The next step is to eradicate the cause of the breach or failure. This may involve removing malware or other malicious software, patching vulnerabilities, or restoring systems from backups.
4. Recovery: After the cause of the breach or failure has been eradicated, the next step is to recover the affected systems and data. This may involve restoring systems from backups, reconfiguring systems, or rebuilding systems from scratch.
5. Restoration: The final step in the disaster recovery process is to restore normal operations. This includes testing the recovered systems and data to ensure that they are functioning properly, and restoring connectivity to networks and other systems.
6. Review and improvement: Once the disaster recovery process is complete, review the entire process and identify areas for improvement. This will help in making the recovery process more efficient and effective in future.

It's important to have a well-documented and tested disaster recovery plan in place before a disaster occurs. This will help ensure that the recovery process is as efficient and effective as possible, minimizing the disruption and downtime caused by a breach or failure.

 

Assesment:

The assessment step in disaster recovery is critical for understanding the extent of the damage caused by the breach or failure, and for determining the steps that need to be taken to restore systems and data.

Here are some key activities that may be performed during the assessment step:

1. Identifying affected systems and data: This includes determining which systems and data have been impacted by the breach or failure, and the level of criticality of each. This information is used to prioritize the recovery efforts.
2. Determining the cause of the breach or failure: This includes understanding how the breach or failure occurred, such as a malware attack, natural disaster, or human error. This information is used to determine the appropriate response and recovery actions.
3. Evaluating the current state of the systems and data: This includes assessing the current state of the affected systems and data, such as determining if backups are available and if they are up to date, or whether data has been lost or corrupted.
4. Assessing the impact on the business: This includes determining the impact of the breach or failure on the business operations, such as determining the extent of the disruption to normal operations, the potential loss of revenue, and the potential impact on customers or other stakeholders.
5. Communicating with stakeholders: This includes informing stakeholders such as management, IT staff, and external customers about the situation, the recovery process, and the estimated time for recovery.
6. Assessing the need for external assistance: This includes determining if external assistance is required, such as from IT service providers, security experts, or legal and compliance teams.

All of the information gathered during the assessment step is used to create a detailed plan for recovery and restoration, with priorities set based on the criticality of the systems and data.

Containment

The containment step in disaster recovery is crucial for preventing further damage to systems and data, and for stopping the spread of malware or other malicious software.

Here are some key activities that may be performed during the containment step:

1. Isolating affected systems: This includes disconnecting affected systems from networks, shutting down systems, or implementing other measures to prevent the spread of malware or other malicious software.
2. Implementing security controls: This includes implementing security controls such as firewalls, intrusion detection/prevention systems, and antivirus software to prevent further breaches or failures.
3. Creating a forensic image: This includes creating an image of the affected systems and data for forensic analysis, to identify the cause of the breach or failure and to aid in recovery efforts.
4. Identifying and containing the malicious code: This includes identifying the specific malicious code or malware responsible for the breach and preventing it from spreading or executing further.
5. Setting up a quarantine zone: This includes setting up a separate area to isolate and contain the affected systems and data, and to prevent unauthorized access to them.
6. Updating security policies and procedures: This includes updating security policies and procedures to address the specific cause of the breach or failure, and to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.

The goal of the containment step is to limit the damage caused by the breach or failure, and to prevent the spread of malware or other malicious software. This helps to ensure that the recovery process is as efficient and effective as possible, and that the risk of future breaches or failures is minimized.