test vs exercise vs practice
by
griss
·
about 18 years, 5 months ago
In reply to Test DR plans on a regular basis
Semantics, semantics. When we view DR simulations as actual “tests”, we promote the idea that a success negates the need for further testing. This is obviously not true because DR simulations are more than verification of functionality. They are events that provide the opportunity to hone skills, to practice old and new techniques, and to bring new blood into the process of recovering the organization.
Testing indicates success or failure in many corporate cultures. Yet, as BC/DR professionals, I’m sure many of us understand that finding failures in a simulation is the best time to find them. So, a failure in turn becomes a success if you are able to isolate the root cause and implement corrective measures.
Just as an athlete exercises to maintain top performance ability, DR plans need exercising to ensure they can perform to the level of expectations during a time of crisis.
DR simulations are also a very valid conduit for gathering requirements. When something in the organization changes, especially on the business side where the information may not trickle over to the DR group in a timely manner, a DR simulation exposes this new requirement when the business groups make it known that they can’t perform some of their job functions without x, y, or z.
I suppose what I am trying to get across is that as an industry we need to get away from labeling the time spent simulating recovery of systems, applications, processes, and functions as “tests” and promote the idea that these activities are an ongoing part of the larger program that is disaster recovery and continuity management.