var quiz = { questions : [ { text : '

DR insurance companies will pay for costs immediately as they arise.

', img : 'https://media.techtarget.com/WhatIs/images/spacer.gif', responses : [ 'True', 'False' ], answer : 1, score : 1, expandedAnswer : '', moreInfo : '

Don\'t count on that reimbursement as an immediate influx of funds following a disaster. Having DR insurance often means paying all of your bills, then later being reimbursed for what was covered. While it will vary by company, DR reimbursements can take some time to come in.

Because of this, be sure to have alternative funds readily available for after disaster strikes. You may need to finance your company\'s operations with little to no income for an unknown amount of time, so plan ahead. Prior to a disaster, you can also work to develop a relationship between your organization and banking representatives. Doing so not only will make them aware of how you plan to operate in a disaster, but also could enable you to get preapproved for any necessary loans that may be needed in the future.

' }, { text : '

During a disaster, data security should be:

', img : 'https://media.techtarget.com/WhatIs/images/spacer.gif', responses : [ 'Put on the backburner while the recovery is handled', 'Attended to on an as-needed basis', 'Consistent with security during regular operations', 'None of the above' ], answer : 2, score : 1, expandedAnswer : '', moreInfo : '

After disaster strikes, data is at its most vulnerable, so don\'t leave security as an afterthought. The best thing you can do is maintain the regular level of security during a disaster so you can rest assured that your data is protected while a recovery is taking place. This, of course, means that you need to have strong security measures in place prior to an outage or failure that can be kept up in a crisis.

Being mindful of business continuity and DR (BC/DR) while establishing security measures -- and vice versa -- is the easiest way to ensure that your data is secure when a disaster event takes place. If treated as totally separate entities, BC/DR and security efforts will likely suffer.

' }, { text : '

A phone tree is an outdated and inefficient form of emergency notifications.

', img : 'https://media.techtarget.com/WhatIs/images/spacer.gif', responses : [ 'True', 'False' ], answer : 1, score : 1, expandedAnswer : '', moreInfo : '

Although newer, faster methods of mass notification exist, don\'t rule out having an emergency call tree established when checking off the communications box in your disaster recovery planning checklist. While speed is important and automated systems, such as mass text notifications, are available, there is a chance that those systems could go awry, depending on the disaster.

As long as phone lines and cellular networks are available, a phone tree is a reliable method of communicating information to employees during a crisis. Even if it is not the primary system being used, having a phone tree organized and distributed as a backup plan can ensure that everyone will be contacted in a reasonably timely manner. Another advantage to a phone tree over modern automated systems is that it enables two-way communication. While this could result in the callers getting more questions, it lets employees communicate and exchange information in a way an automated system cannot. It will also be immediately clear if an employee does or does not receive the message, so your organization can take further actions to relay the information if necessary.

' }, { text : '

What does RTO specify?

', img : 'https://media.techtarget.com/WhatIs/images/spacer.gif', responses : [ 'How much data you can afford to lose in a disaster', 'How long it should take for a system to fully recover following a disaster', 'Which data is mission-critical in a disaster', 'How badly the business is impacted by a disaster' ], answer : 1, score : 1, expandedAnswer : '', moreInfo : '

RTO stands for recovery time objective and refers to the maximum amount of time that a system, network or application can be down after a disaster hits. This is not to be confused with RPO, which stands for recovery point objective. RPO establishes how old the last backup of data can be to resume normal operations after a disaster.

While both RPO and RTO can be expressed in terms of time, they do not necessarily match each other. When determining an RTO, you should take into account any compliance or other business requirements that specify acceptable amounts of downtime, as well as how quickly your current system is capable of recovering. Your RPO should be based on how frequently data needs to be backed up. If backups are performed at a frequency of once every 60 minutes, then the RPO and last usable backup should be 60 minutes prior to the disaster.

When planning for potential disasters, ensure that your recovery objectives are not only established, but attainable and up to date with your current requirements and capabilities.

' }, { text : '

When creating your disaster recovery planning checklist, what qualities should you prioritize when choosing a DR team leader?

', img : 'https://media.techtarget.com/WhatIs/images/spacer.gif', responses : [ 'Someone who is knowledgeable but open-minded', 'Someone who is remote but strict', 'Someone who is available but fresh to the field', 'Someone who is antisocial but detail-oriented' ], answer : 0, score : 1, expandedAnswer : '', moreInfo : '

While managerial styles vary, there are a few basic traits that you should look for -- and some you should avoid -- when choosing a team leader. One of the most common mistakes made when choosing someone to head up a DR team is to choose the person who is available at the time. This is the fastest way to fill the role, but a level of expertise may be lacking when you go with the first available option. Availability should not be confused with accessibility, however. Rather than someone who works remotely or travels frequently, choose a leader who is on-site often and available to answer questions, offer suggestions and communicate openly with the team.

Being a strong leader is one thing, and being severe is another. Prioritize a leader who is open to hearing ideas from the team and gets along with colleagues and external partners. Finding someone focused and detail-oriented is helpful, as things can often go overlooked in a crisis situation. However, if candidates cannot communicate that information openly with the team, they may not be suited to a leadership position.

When you choose a DR leader, take the time to find someone who is experienced and knowledgeable in the field but also open to hearing input from the rest of the team.

' }, { text : '

In addition to your internal staffing, having an outside DR adviser can be beneficial to recovery planning.

', img : 'https://media.techtarget.com/WhatIs/images/spacer.gif', responses : [ 'True', 'False' ], answer : 0, score : 1, expandedAnswer : '', moreInfo : '

Having an experienced DR consultant to bring in for DR planning offers a number of advantages. She can offer an outside point of view and identify any weaknesses or areas for improvement that internal staff may miss. However, the emphasis here should be on experienced. Finding an adviser should be relatively simple for most organizations, but finding one that has all of the necessary qualifications and knowledge to aid your business is more of a challenge.

When vetting outside consultants, ensure that candidates are not only knowledgeable of IT, but your industry as well. Taking on an adviser with insight into your particular needs is critical to adequate DR planning. Also, the IT landscape is constantly evolving, so be sure that a potential adviser is up to date on the latest technologies, approaches and compliance needs.

' } ] };