IT DR Plan
IT DR Plan
1. Plan Overview
This IT Disaster Recovery Plan (IT DR Plan) for Barwon Water outlines the strategies and procedures necessary to restore critical IT systems in the event of a disruption. It integrates with the broader Business Continuity Management (BCM) framework and aligns with the Three-Capability Model, encompassing Critical Incident Management (CIM), Business Continuity Management (BCM), and IT Disaster Recovery (ITDR).
1.1 Executive Summary
Barwon Water's IT DR Plan is designed to restore critical IT operations supporting essential services such as water supply, wastewater management, and billing, with stringent Recovery Time Objectives (RTOs) and Recovery Point Objectives (RPOs). The plan is essential for maintaining operational resilience and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards. This document details procedures for system recovery, data integrity, and network connectivity, supported by regular testing and maintenance schedules.
2. Recovery Objectives (RTO and RPO)
The Recovery Time Objectives (RTOs) and Recovery Point Objectives (RPOs) are critical metrics that guide the recovery process for Barwon Water's IT systems. These objectives ensure that critical operations can be restored within acceptable timeframes to minimize disruption.
2.1 Critical Operations RTOs and RPOs
| Operation | RTO | RPO |
|---|---|---|
| Water Supply | 4h | 1h |
| Wastewater Management | 6h | 1h |
| Billing | 6h | 1h |
| Customer Service | 4h | 1h |
| Environmental Compliance | 24h | 4h |
3. IT Recovery Team and Contacts
The IT Recovery Team is responsible for executing the IT DR Plan. This team includes key personnel with defined roles and responsibilities to ensure effective communication and coordination during a disaster recovery effort.
3.1 Team Roles and Contacts
| Role | Name | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| IT DR Manager | John Doe | john.doe@barwonwater.vic.gov.au |
| Systems Administrator | Jane Smith | jane.smith@barwonwater.vic.gov.au |
| Network Engineer | Alan Brown | alan.brown@barwonwater.vic.gov.au |
4. System Inventory and Criticality Classification
An accurate inventory of IT systems and their criticality classification is essential for prioritizing recovery efforts. Systems supporting critical operations are prioritized to meet RTO and RPO requirements.
4.1 System Inventory
The following table lists the IT systems, their criticality classification, and the operations they support.
| System | Criticality | Supported Operations |
|---|---|---|
| SCADA System | Critical | Water Supply |
| Billing System | Critical | Billing |
| Customer Service Portal | Important | Customer Service |
5. Activation and Escalation Procedures
Clear activation and escalation procedures are vital to ensure a swift and organized response to IT disruptions. These procedures outline the steps to be taken from the initial incident detection through to the full activation of the IT DR Plan.
5.1 Activation Criteria
The IT DR Plan is activated when a disruption meets predefined criteria such as prolonged system outage, data breach, or significant service degradation impacting critical operations. The IT DR Manager is responsible for assessing the situation and initiating the plan.
5.2 Escalation Pathways
Escalation pathways ensure that the appropriate management levels are informed and involved as necessary. Initial incidents are reported to the IT DR Manager, who then coordinates with senior management and other relevant stakeholders.
6. System and Application Recovery Procedures
This section details the specific recovery procedures for critical systems and applications. These procedures are designed to restore functionality in alignment with RTOs and RPOs.
6.1 SCADA System Recovery
The SCADA system is critical for water supply operations. Recovery involves restoring system functionality through redundant systems and ensuring data integrity through backup verification.
6.2 Billing System Recovery
The billing system is essential for revenue collection and customer management. Recovery steps include database restoration and application server reconfiguration to ensure continuity of billing operations.
7. Data Recovery and Integrity Checks
Ensuring data integrity is a critical aspect of IT disaster recovery. This section outlines the procedures for data recovery and the integrity checks necessary to confirm data accuracy post-recovery.
7.1 Backup Verification
Regular verification of backups is essential to ensure data can be restored accurately. This involves testing backup media and conducting routine data restoration exercises.
7.2 Data Integrity Procedures
Post-recovery, data integrity checks are conducted to verify that restored data matches pre-disruption records. This includes checksum validation and data consistency analysis.
8. Network and Connectivity Recovery
Restoring network connectivity is vital for the operation of IT systems. This section describes the steps to restore network infrastructure and ensure continued communication across Barwon Water's operations.
8.1 Network Infrastructure Restoration
Network infrastructure recovery includes the restoration of routers, switches, and firewalls. Priority is given to re-establishing connectivity for critical systems supporting water supply and wastewater management.
8.2 Telecommunications Redundancy
Utilizing telecommunications provider redundancy ensures that alternative communication pathways are available. This involves activating backup circuits and rerouting traffic as necessary.
9. Cloud and Third-Party Service Recovery
The recovery of cloud-based services and third-party applications is critical to maintaining IT service continuity. This section outlines the procedures for engaging with cloud providers and third-party vendors during recovery efforts.
9.1 Cloud Service Provider Coordination
Coordination with cloud service providers ensures that cloud-based applications are restored in accordance with service level agreements (SLAs). Regular communication and pre-established recovery protocols are essential.
9.2 Third-Party Vendor Engagement
Engagement with third-party vendors involves activating contingency support agreements and accessing additional resources to expedite recovery. This includes hardware replacements and software support.
10. Testing and Exercise Schedule
Regular testing and exercises are crucial to validate the effectiveness of the IT DR Plan. This section provides the schedule and scope for routine testing activities.
10.1 Testing Frequency
Testing of the IT DR Plan is conducted bi-annually to ensure preparedness. Each test includes a simulation of a specific disaster scenario to evaluate response capabilities.
10.2 Exercise Scenarios
Exercise scenarios include simulated cyber-attacks, data center outages, and telecommunications failures. These exercises assess the readiness of the IT recovery team and the robustness of recovery procedures.
11. Plan Maintenance
Ongoing maintenance of the IT DR Plan ensures its relevance and effectiveness. This section outlines the procedures for regular updates and reviews.
11.1 Review and Update Procedures
The IT DR Plan is reviewed annually or following significant changes to IT infrastructure or operations. Updates are documented and communicated to all stakeholders to ensure alignment with current practices.
11.2 Stakeholder Engagement
Engagement with stakeholders across Barwon Water ensures that the IT DR Plan reflects the needs and expectations of all departments. Feedback is solicited during reviews to enhance plan effectiveness.