MSP In Boston Reveals the Key Steps in Disaster Recovery Testing
Every organization has unique IT systems, processes, and priorities, so a one-size-fits-all disaster recovery (DR) strategy will not suffice. A tailored DR plan ensures that your business’s specific critical applications, data, and operations are accounted for, but without disaster recovery testing, you have no way of knowing if your tailored plan is fulfilling these needs. Disasters don’t wait for your systems to be ready. Without testing, even the best recovery plan is a gamble.
| “Having a DR plan on paper isn’t enough. The only way to know it works is through regular tabletop exercises; otherwise, the first true test may come at the worst possible time.”– Michael Kourkoulakos, CEO of NENS |
You could have a seemingly foolproof documented plan, but it is impossible to know how it will hold up in the event of a real disaster unless you conduct regular tests. Moreover, technology updates introduce new risks, so one test will never be good enough.
In this article, a leading Boston MSP explains what disaster recovery testing is, why it matters, how to perform it effectively, and how to use your test results to strengthen your overall recovery plan.
What Is Disaster Recovery Testing?
Disaster recovery testing is the process of evaluating your disaster recovery plan in a simulated scenario to verify that your organization can actually recover systems, data, and operations within the desired timeframe after an outage.
This process can involve everything from restoring data from backups to failing over to backup servers or cloud systems to testing communication and decision-making processes during an emergency.
DR testing can be conducted at various levels of depth and realism. For example, a tabletop exercise is a low-impact test where stakeholders walk through the recovery plan together in a conference room setting and discuss each step of the response.
On the other end of the spectrum, a full-scale test (also called a full interruption test) involves actually activating the disaster recovery environment and temporarily shifting operations there to validate that your systems can run entirely from backups or secondary sites.
The right level of disaster recovery testing depends on your organization’s maturity and risk tolerance. Smaller or less complex environments benefit from basic, discussion-based reviews to confirm responsibilities and identify gaps without disrupting systems.
As your operations and infrastructure grow, more comprehensive tests that simulate real recovery steps become appropriate.
Why Is Testing Your Disaster Recovery Plan Important?
Drafting a disaster recovery plan is never enough on its own. Regular testing of your DR plan is essential to make sure it will work when it counts. Here are five key reasons why testing your disaster recovery plan is so important.
1. Proves Your Recovery Objectives Are Achievable
You likely set specific Recovery Time Objectives (RTOs) and Recovery Point Objectives (RPOs) in your initial plan. However, until you test your plan, those objectives are just assumptions. One survey by Amazon actually found that only 37% of respondents were able to meet their RTO goals in practice.
Running DR tests lets you measure whether you can meet those recovery time and point objectives in reality. If the test shows you cannot restore operations within the expected window, you will know that your plan, or your technology, needs adjustment.
2. Keeps The Plan Up-to-Date
Your IT environment is constantly evolving. Eventually, you will add new applications, update systems, and change key aspects of your IT infrastructure. Plus, technology as a whole will evolve.
Regular tests can reveal gaps where something new is not covered or where an old procedure is no longer relevant. Therefore, you can adjust your strategy accordingly to avoid being caught off guard by an unanticipated scenario.
3. Proactively Highlights Gaps
It is far better to find a flaw or missing step in your DR plan during a scheduled test than during a real crisis. Testing may uncover issues like backups that are not recoverable, failover systems that were not configured correctly, or communication breakdowns in the response process.
Without testing, you might carry a false sense of security and only discover your plan’s shortcomings when a disaster actually hits. 68% of organizations are confident that they can recover in the event of a disaster, yet 22% of these respondents admit they have never tested their plan. That means 46% of organizations could be less prepared than they realize.
4. Gets Your Staff Prepared & Trained
Your plan will only be effective if the people executing it know what to do. Regular drills keep your team familiar with their roles and the recovery procedures. Plus, new employees get a chance to learn the process if they were not employed by your organization during your last test.
Furthermore, these drills are simply a good opportunity to reinforce cybersecurity best practices. 81% of data breaches can still be traced back to poor password management practices, which simply should not be the case.
5. Good Documentation For Compliance Regulators
Many industries have compliance requirements or at least expectations around disaster recovery. Regulators, auditors, or key clients may demand proof that you can recover from disruptions. Performing regular DR tests (and retaining documentation of the results) demonstrates that you can.
Key Steps in The Disaster Recovery Testing Process
1. Review Your Disaster Recovery Plan
Before launching into a test, make sure your DR plan reflects your current business environment. Revisit the plan documents and update them as needed to account for any changes in your IT infrastructure, applications, or personnel.
Also, identify your most critical systems and data. Eliminating redundant or non-essential data from the recovery testing process can save time, so clean up what you back up if possible.
2. Choose Disaster Scenarios & Testing Method
Next, decide what disaster scenario(s) you will simulate and how you will conduct the test. Will you simulate a specific incident like a server hardware failure, a ransomware attack encrypting data, or a regional power outage? Identifying realistic scenarios ensures the test is relevant.
For instance, you might plan a scenario like “data center power outage”, and the test method might involve shutting down power to certain servers (in a controlled way) to see if the backup systems kick in. Document the scenario details and steps so that everyone knows what will be simulated.
3. Allocate Resources & Prepare Your Environment
Make sure that you have everything in place to execute the test, both in terms of people and technology. This means scheduling the participation of IT staff, business unit representatives, or third-party vendors if needed.
It is also critical to prepare a safe testing environment. If possible, use a staging or sandbox environment that mirrors production, or schedule the test during a maintenance window, to avoid causing any accidental damage to your live systems.
4. Launch Test
Now it is time to carry out the test according to your plan. Follow the test script and scenario you defined, and have your team perform the recovery steps just as they would in a real disaster. Treat the exercise seriously to validate both the plan and the team’s readiness.
5. Monitor Performance & Document Actions Along The Way
As the test progresses, document each action, decision, and result in real-time. Record how long each step takes. For instance, note the duration of a database restoration to compare it against your expected RTOs.
Also, during technical recovery steps, closely observe system behavior. Watch for issues with server startups, application load times, or network failovers. Capture system logs and user feedback to assess stability and recovery quality.
6. Pivot or Pause If Necessary
If a process does not perform as expected, pause the test and document what went wrong. It is better to stop, address the issue, and resume later than to push through with flawed procedures. Consider performing smaller practice drills beforehand to identify major problems early.
7. Gather Documented Data & Report Your Findings
Once the test is concluded, gather all the data and observations. Record the start and end times, which systems were recovered, any components that didn’t work, and any deviation from the plan.
Also, collect any automated logs from recovery tools or systems for analysis. If certain steps were particularly troublesome, make a note of it. These raw results will be the basis for a thorough analysis.
In a post-test debrief meeting, have team members share their perspectives and note any confusion or roadblocks they experienced. All of this documentation will allow you to evaluate the test performance and identify improvements.
Many compliance frameworks also require some of this information. Here is an overview of what you need to present for what.
| Framework | DR Documentation Required |
| NIST SP 800-34 | Written contingency plan, Information System Contingency Plan, Disaster Recovery Plan, and Business Continuity Plan. Define roles, recovery priorities, and procedures. |
| NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5 | Documented Contingency Plan (CP-2), backup and recovery procedures (CP-9, CP-10), roles and contacts, and alternate site strategies. |
| HIPAA Security Rule 45 CFR 164.308(a)(7) | Data Backup Plan, Disaster Recovery Plan, Emergency Mode Operation Plan, Testing and Revision Procedures, and Applications/Data Criticality Analysis. |
| PCI DSS v4.0 | Documented Incident Response Plan that addresses recovery, plus supporting continuity and backup processes tied to cardholder data environments. |
| GLBA Safeguards Rule (16 CFR 314) | Written information security program that includes an incident response plan addressing recovery and service continuity for customer information systems. |
| CJIS Security Policy | Continuity of Operations and disaster recovery procedures are documented to protect Criminal Justice Information across its lifecycle. |
| CMMC 2.0 (DoD) | Practices draw from NIST 800-171. While full contingency planning can be tailored, protection of system backups must be derived from CP-9. Maintain incident response and recovery processes consistent with 800-171. |
How to Interpret Your Disaster Recovery Test Results
Compare Recovery Outcomes to Objectives
Start by evaluating how the test outcomes stack up against the goals you defined. For example, if your objective was to restore critical servers within 4 hours, check the actual timeline from the test. Measure the recovery time and data loss against those predefined objectives.
Verify Data Integrity & Completeness
The core purpose of DR is to recover data, so examine the state of restored data closely. Ensure that all critical data was recovered intact and that no files or databases are corrupted or missing after the restore.
It is also best practice to run data integrity checks or sample some transactions to confirm everything is in order. If part of the test involved failover of an application, verify that the application’s data is current to within the expected timeframe.
Identify Bottlenecks or Failures in The Process
Look at every step that was carried out and note where the plan struggled. Did any phase of the recovery take significantly longer than anticipated, or did any system not come back online as expected?
Pinpoint the root causes of any delays or failures. This also includes checking if all dependencies were handled. From there, you can create a to-do list of what to fix or optimize in your DR plan and IT infrastructure.
Evaluate Your Team’s Reactions
The human factor is just as important as the technology. Gather feedback from all participants in the test to understand their experiences.
These insights are gold for improving the plan’s clarity and the team’s training. If necessary, refine roles and provide additional training where the test showed gaps in knowledge or readiness.
How a Trusted Managed IT Services Provider In Boston Can Help You Strengthen Your Disaster Recovery Testing
Developing, executing, and refining a disaster recovery test plan can be a complex undertaking, but you do not have to do it all alone. If you need assistance in creating a rock-solid DR plan or carrying out effective disaster recovery testing, NENS is here to help.
We specialize in guiding businesses through this process, from crafting tailored disaster recovery strategies to conducting comprehensive DR drills that validate your preparedness.
Contact a trusted managed IT services provider in Boston today to discuss your disaster recovery goals and strengthen your business continuity strategy.
