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Sometimes an unexpected event, such as a fire, flood, or equipment failure, can cause downtime. In order to be able to continue operations as quickly and smoothly as possible, continuity planning is carried out, i.e. planning the operations in advance for these exceptional situations.

Each continuity plan shall contain at least the following information:

• Event for which the plan has been made
• Goal for recovery time
• Responsible persons and related stakeholders and contact information
• Planned immediate actions
• Planned recovery steps

The media used for backups and the restoration of backups are tested regularly to ensure that they can be relied on in an emergency.

Accurate and complete instructions are maintained for restoring backups. The policy is used to monitor the operation of backups and to prepare for backup failures.

In connection with the data systems listing, we describe for which systems we are responsible for the implementation of the backup. The organization’s own backup processes are documented and an owner is assigned to each. The documentation includes e.g.:

• which system is used for backing up data?
• how are the backups protected (encryption, physical location)?
• how long are the backups retained?

With adequate backups, all important data and programs can be restored after a disaster or media failure. An important first step in a functional backup strategy is to identify who is responsible for backing up each piece of data. Determining the responsibility for backup is the responsibility of the owners of the information assets (systems, hardware).

If the backup is the responsibility of the partner, we will find out:

• how comprehensively does the partner back up the data?
• how the data can be recovered if necessary?
• how the backups are agreed in the contracts?

If the backup is our own responsibility, we will find out:

• whether the data backup process exists and is documented?
• whether the coverage and implementation cycle of the backup is at the level required by the importance of the data?

The organization should regularly, at least annually, test and review its information security continuity plans to ensure that they are valid and effective in adverse situations.

Testing of continuity plans shall involve, as appropriate, stakeholders critical to each plan. The organisation should identify and document the necessary contacts with suppliers and partners.

In addition, the adequacy of continuity plans and associated management mechanisms should be reassessed in the event of significant changes in operations.

The organization has to include disaster recovery in their continuity planning. Relevant disasters for the planning are natural disasters (e.g floods, earthquake, hurricanes) and human caused disasters (e.g terror attack, chemical attack/incident, insider attack).

In disaster planning there is greater emphasis on the returning operations to normal levels safely than in continuity planning. After this focus moves to resuming normal operations.

The continuity plans must be updated at least annually or after significant changes.

The organization shall have procedures in place to communicate effectively with stakeholders and other participants during continuity plans and survival procedures.

Communication plans related to continuity plans shall include:

• Responsible persons, related stakeholders and other necessary contact information
• Clear criteria for the situation where continuity communication will be implemented
• A clear description of the staff implementing the continuity communication in each situation and the recipients to whom the communication will be sent
• References to the templates and tools to be used