Maintain reliability and recovery

Prepare for equipment failures, service outages, accidental deletion, and other disruptions that could interrupt essential work. Keep important equipment and services maintained, arrange dependable technical support, and decide which operations must be restored first.

Back up critical information, protect those copies, and test that you can recover usable records within an acceptable time. Establish who will lead the response, how employees and customers will be informed, and what temporary arrangements will keep work moving.

Confirm what your outside providers will handle and what remains your responsibility. Review and practice the plan so people know how to respond when needed.