Business Continuity and Crisis Management

Certificate in IT Disaster Recovery Planning (CITDRP)

This course provides a comprehensive framework for IT Disaster Recovery Planning (DRP), focusing on risk assessment, recovery strategies, plan development, and testing. Participants will gain practical skills to create and implement effective disaster recovery plans tailored to their organisational needs.

5 days Classroom or live online English

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Download the full standard outline: why attend, methodology, objectives, audience, competencies, the daily outline and current plans.

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Why attend

From knowledge to real-world impact.

Organisations face increasing threats from cyberattacks, natural disasters, and system failures, making effective disaster recovery planning essential. Participants will learn to identify vulnerabilities, assess risks, and develop strategies to mitigate them. This ensures business continuity, minimises downtime, and protects critical data, which is vital for maintaining stakeholder trust and regulatory compliance. The course will empower participants to make informed decisions regarding resource allocation, recovery prioritisation, and stakeholder communication, which are crucial in crisis situations. By mastering these skills, professionals will enhance their organisation's resilience and responsiveness to disruptions, ultimately safeguarding their operational integrity and reputation.

Through practical exercises and real-world scenarios, participants will enhance their ability to assess risks, design recovery strategies, and create actionable disaster recovery plans. They will engage in collaborative workshops that simulate decision-making processes, enabling them to practice prioritising recovery tasks and allocating resources effectively. Participants will also learn how to conduct testing and validation of their plans, ensuring they are robust and actionable. This hands-on approach equips professionals with the skills needed to implement effective recovery measures in their organisations. By the end of the course, attendees will be prepared to lead their teams in disaster recovery efforts, ensuring a swift and efficient response to any crisis.

Workplace challenges

Professional Problems This Course Is Designed to Solve

The programme explores practical approaches to the following challenges. Results depend on how the learning is applied in your organisation.

Difficulty translating subject knowledge into practical workplace decisions.
Inconsistent approaches to the activities covered in the course outline.
Lack of a structured plan for applying and reviewing new skills.

Course methodology

How you will learn.

The course employs a blend of case studies, collaborative workshops, and simulation exercises to build practical skills in IT disaster recovery planning. Participants will engage in scenario-based activities that require them to analyse risks, design recovery strategies, and develop comprehensive disaster recovery plans. Outputs will include risk assessment reports, recovery strategy documents, and a complete disaster recovery plan, ensuring participants can apply their learning directly to their workplace. Additionally, peer reviews and feedback sessions will enhance understanding and foster collaborative learning, allowing participants to refine their plans based on diverse perspectives and experiences. This interactive approach ensures that participants leave with not only theoretical knowledge but also practical capabilities that can be immediately implemented.

Course objectives

What you'll take away.

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

Analyse organisational vulnerabilities to identify critical IT assets and potential threats.
Design a comprehensive disaster recovery plan that addresses identified risks and recovery objectives.
Assess various disaster recovery strategies and their applicability to different scenarios.
Construct a risk assessment report detailing potential impacts and recovery priorities.
Prioritise recovery tasks based on business impact analysis and resource availability.
Evaluate the effectiveness of disaster recovery plans through testing and simulation exercises.

Target audience

Who should attend.

This course is suitable for:

IT Managers responsible for disaster recovery planning and implementation.
Business Continuity Planners focused on integrating IT recovery into broader business strategies.
System Administrators tasked with maintaining IT infrastructure resilience.
Risk Management Professionals involved in assessing and mitigating IT-related risks.

Target competencies

Capabilities you will build.

Participants will develop competencies in:

Conduct thorough risk assessments to identify vulnerabilities.
Develop actionable disaster recovery strategies tailored to organisational needs.
Implement and test disaster recovery plans effectively.
Facilitate communication and training related to disaster recovery processes.
Evaluate and improve existing disaster recovery plans based on testing outcomes.
Integrate disaster recovery planning with overall business continuity strategies.

Course outline

Your learning journey.

A focused, practical outline with time to explore, apply and reflect.

Day 1Understanding IT Disaster Recovery

Applied activity: Participants will conduct a risk assessment for a fictional organisation, identifying critical assets and potential threats. They will work in groups to present their findings and discuss implications for disaster recovery planning, including prioritisation of assets and potential recovery strategies.

Output: A risk assessment report highlighting vulnerabilities and critical IT assets.

09:00–09:54Define disaster recovery and its importance in IT management.
09:54–10:48Identify key components of a disaster recovery plan and their roles.
10:48–11:00Explore regulatory and compliance requirements for disaster recovery planning.
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–12:12Explore regulatory and compliance requirements for disaster recovery planning. (continued)
12:12–13:06Discuss common threats and vulnerabilities to IT systems and their impact.
13:06–14:00Review case studies of disaster recovery failures and successes to identify lessons learned.

Day 2Developing a Disaster Recovery Strategy

Applied activity: Using the risk assessment report from Day 1, participants will design a disaster recovery strategy for their fictional organisation. They will evaluate various recovery options and justify their choices based on organisational needs and resource availability, ensuring alignment with business goals.

Output: A detailed disaster recovery strategy document outlining selected recovery options.

09:00–09:54Explore different types of disaster recovery strategies (e.g., hot, warm, cold sites) and their use cases.
09:54–10:48Assess the pros and cons of various recovery options based on organisational needs.
10:48–11:00Learn how to align recovery strategies with business objectives and operational requirements.
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–12:12Learn how to align recovery strategies with business objectives and operational requirements. (continued)
12:12–13:06Discuss resource allocation and budget considerations for effective recovery planning.
13:06–14:00Develop a framework for selecting appropriate recovery strategies based on risk assessments.

Day 3Creating the Disaster Recovery Plan

Applied activity: Participants will draft a comprehensive disaster recovery plan based on their strategy from Day 2. They will ensure all key elements, including roles and responsibilities, communication protocols, and recovery procedures, are included and clearly defined for practical application.

Output: A draft disaster recovery plan ready for review and testing.

09:00–09:54Learn the structure and key elements of a comprehensive disaster recovery plan.
09:54–10:48Discuss roles and responsibilities in disaster recovery planning and implementation.
10:48–11:00Incorporate communication plans into disaster recovery strategies for effective stakeholder engagement.
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–12:12Incorporate communication plans into disaster recovery strategies for effective stakeholder engagement. (continued)
12:12–13:06Explore documentation and version control for recovery plans to ensure accuracy and updates.
13:06–14:00Review templates and tools for effective plan development and maintenance.

Day 4Testing and Validating the Plan

Applied activity: Participants will conduct a table-top exercise to test their disaster recovery plan, simulating a disaster scenario and evaluating the response. They will identify strengths and weaknesses in the plan and discuss improvements as a group, focusing on practical adjustments.

Output: A testing report summarising findings, challenges, and recommendations for improvement.

09:00–09:54Understand the importance of testing disaster recovery plans to ensure preparedness.
09:54–10:48Explore different testing methodologies (e.g., table-top exercises, simulations) and their applications.
10:48–11:00Learn how to evaluate the effectiveness of tests and gather actionable feedback.
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–12:12Learn how to evaluate the effectiveness of tests and gather actionable feedback. (continued)
12:12–13:06Discuss common challenges in plan testing and validation, and strategies to overcome them.
13:06–14:00Develop a testing schedule and maintenance plan for the disaster recovery plan to ensure ongoing effectiveness.

Day 5Integrating Disaster Recovery with Business Continuity

Applied activity: Participants will create an integrated disaster recovery and business continuity roadmap for their fictional organisation. They will outline key steps, timelines, and responsibilities for enhancing both recovery and continuity strategies in a cohesive manner, ensuring alignment with business objectives.

Output: An integrated roadmap document detailing strategies for enhancing disaster recovery and business continuity.

09:00–09:54Discuss the relationship between disaster recovery and business continuity planning for holistic resilience.
09:54–10:48Explore frameworks for integrating recovery plans into overall business strategies and operations.
10:48–11:00Learn how to conduct business impact analysis (BIA) for recovery planning and prioritisation.
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–12:12Learn how to conduct business impact analysis (BIA) for recovery planning and prioritisation. (continued)
12:12–13:06Review case studies of successful integration of DR and BC plans to identify best practices.
13:06–14:00Develop a roadmap for continuous improvement in disaster recovery and business continuity strategies.

The timings provided are estimates and may vary depending on the number of participants and the discussions taking place during the sessions. They are indicative only and do not constitute a binding commitment.

Dates & venues

Find a session that works for you.

Confirmed dates accept registration requests. Tentative dates are enquiry only.

Good to know

A few things to know.

How is the course delivered?

Our classroom programmes combine facilitated discussion, case studies, exercises and reflection. The precise format will be confirmed before enrolment.

Can you deliver this programme for our team?

Yes, you can enquire about a tailored programme. Share your goals, group size and preferred dates with our learning team.

Will I receive a certificate?

Participants who complete the programme receive a Smart Horizon UK certificate of attendance. Smart Horizon UK programmes are not externally accredited and do not award a professional qualification, licence or designation. Where a course title or outline refers to a professional certification (for example, AACE International's Certified Cost Professional), the programme supports learning and preparation only; the credential itself is awarded solely by the relevant professional body under its own application and examination requirements.

What should I confirm before booking travel?

Please confirm the session, exact venue, accessibility arrangements, fees and any visa requirements with the team before arranging travel. Tentative dates are not confirmed sessions.

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