Skip to main content

e-Sign with PandaDoc

Disaster Recovery Plan Template

Image 1

Prepared for:

​[Sender.Company]​

​[Sender.StreetAddress][Sender.City], [Sender.State][Sender.PostalCode]​

​[Sender.Phone][Sender.Email]​

(Company website)

A disaster recovery plan provides guidance and has procedures that the organization can use during a disruption or disaster. Our disaster recovery plan template will help you create an effective disaster recovery plan for your organization.

1. Disaster Recovery Plan Goal

The goal of this disaster recovery plan is:

  • To protect [Sender.Company]'s core operations.

  • To ensure that critical business functions continue in the event of a disruption.

  • To limit the economic impact of the disruption.

  • To train employees on disaster emergency procedures.

  • To recover quickly and resume normal operations as soon as possible.

2. Disaster Risk Assessment

Knowing what you’re dealing with is vital when creating a disaster recovery plan. Adding a section that helps you identify possible disasters by describing them is a great way to start.

Below are the types of disasters that may adversely affect the organization's operations:

Disaster:

Description:

Key Identifiers of Risk:

(state disaster type, e.g., hurricane, tornado, flood, power outage, etc.)

(describe what the disaster would look like)

(state the key identifiers of risk)

(state disaster type, e.g., hurricane, tornado, flood, power outage, etc.)

(describe what the disaster would look like)

(state the key identifiers of risk)

(state disaster type, e.g., hurricane, tornado, flood, power outage, etc.)

(describe what the disaster would look like)

(state the key identifiers of risk)

3. Disaster Recovery Team

This section is vital in any disaster recovery plan since it helps locate the people who can make a difference during an emergency. The team should be composed of individuals with the necessary skills and knowledge to execute the plan.

List the disaster recovery team for the specific disaster that the company is facing.

Name

Disaster Type

Role

Responsibilities

Phone

Email

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

4. Emergency Response Procedure

This section lays out the order in which the disaster team will be identified as the main point person. Because employees can change quicker than plans can, it is best to list the title of the employee who will be the first, second or third point of contact so that the plan remains evergreen.

4.1 Identify the (state the role that belongs to the plan coordinator, e.g., Plan Coordinator, Disaster Coordinator, etc.).

The first person who should be notified in the event of a disaster is the (name the first point of contact's role, e.g., plan coordinator).

If the (name the first point of contact's role) is located, the (name the first point of contact's role) will further be referred to as the (name the role of the plan coordinator).

If the (name the first point of contact's role) is unavailable, the next person to be notified should be the (name the second point of contact's role).

If the (name the second point of contact's role) is located, the (name the second point of contact's role) will further be referred to as the (name the role of the plan coordinator).

If the (name the second point of contact's role) is unavailable, the next person to be notified should be the (name the third point of contact's role).

If the (name the third point of contact's role) is located, the (name the third point of contact's role) will further be referred to as the (name the role of the plan coordinator).

4.2 Deploy disaster recovery team

The (name the role of the plan coordinator) will contact the rest of the disaster recovery team and begin assessing the situation to supervise that the disaster recovery plan is being followed. The team will work together to identify any urgent needs that must be addressed and develop a plan of action for responding and recovering from the disaster.

4.3 Communication & documentation

The main communication channel in the event of a disaster is (state the main communication channel).

There are (insert number) other backup channels in case the main communication channel doesn't work: (list the backup communication channel) and (list the backup communication channel).

The team will keep all necessary parties informed of the situation. Those parties include both internal stakeholders and external partners. They will also document all steps taken during the process for future reference.

5. Backup Actions Procedure

Different types of data can have varying sensitivity levels, which is why you may choose to use different servers or storage units for these assets. Each procedure needs to be laid out clearly to ensure all data will be recovered promptly and securely.

5.1 Critical or confidential data backup procedure

All critical and confidential data is backed up in (state the backup system or place).

(State the backup system or place) can be accessed by (describe how to access the backup system or location).

All critical and confidential data must be extracted from (state the backup system or place) and moved to the Backup Site.

5.2 Physical assets backup procedure

All physical assets are backed up in (state the backup system or place).

(State the backup system or place) can be accessed by (describe how to access the backup system or location).

All physical assets must be extracted from (state the backup system or place) and moved to the Backup Site.

5.3 Digital assets backup procedure

All digital assets are backed up in (state the backup system or place).

(State the backup system or place) can be accessed by (describe how to access the backup system or location).

All digital assets must be extracted from the (state the backup system or place).

6. Recovery Actions Procedure

6.1 Evacuation to the backup site

The address to the designated backup site in the event of an emergency is:

(Site.StreetAddress)

(Site.City) (Site.State) (Site.PostalCode)

The disaster recovery team will inform all personnel of the situation and alert them to evacuate to their designated backup site.

The plan (name the role of the plan coordinator) will ensure safe evacuation procedures are followed and coordinate with local authorities if necessary.

6.2 Transportation of personnel

All personnel will be transported to the backup site (state the means of transportation, e.g., company bus, personal vehicles, etc.) and provided with any safety equipment necessary.

6.3 Transportation of assets

To ensure all physical assets are appropriately secured and transported, the (name the role of the plan coordinator) will assign personnel to each asset. They will keep track of each asset as they move them from one location to another.

6.4 Reactivation of systems & data recovery

Once all personnel and physical assets have been safely transported to the backup site, the disaster recovery team will begin restoring operations and services that have been affected by the disaster. The team will work on reactivating systems, recovering data, restoring access to applications, and other necessary steps.

7. Post-Recovery Actions Procedure

Having a post-recovery actions procedure section helps you ensure that all necessary steps are taken after the disaster has been resolved. The steps include returning to normal operations, communicating with stakeholders, and documenting the entire process.

Once the recovery has been completed, the disaster recovery team will generate a final report. The report should include the following:

  • Information about the incident.

  • An analysis of the response plan.

  • Any changes that may be needed.

  • Suggestions for future improvements to ensure a successful disaster recovery process.

The final report must be presented to management for review and approval. All personnel involved in the recovery process should provide feedback on the experience so that further improvements can be made to the plan.

​

Signature
MM / DD / YYYY

​

Signature
MM / DD / YYYY

​[Sender.FirstName][Sender.LastName]​

​[Sender.Title][Sender.Company]​

​[Employee.FirstName][Employee.LastName]​

​[Employee.Title][Employee.Company]​

Useful resources

Featured Templates
Sales Proposals
NDA Agreements
Operating Agreements
Service Agreements
Sales Documents
Marketing Proposals
Rental and Lease Agreements
Quote Templates
Business Proposals
Agreement Templates
Purchase Agreements
Contract Templates

FAQ

  • Writing a disaster recovery plan can be daunting, but anyone can accomplish it with careful planning and organization. Once you assemble a team responsible for implementing the plan, you then want to gather information about the company’s systems and data and create a strategy for backing them up. When a plan is in place, it is important to do a test run by simulating a disaster. After testing is complete, the final plan should be documented and distributed to all personnel involved in the recovery process.

  • There are five major elements of a typical disaster recovery plan: evacuation procedures, transportation, asset tracking, system restoration, and post-recovery actions. Each of these elements is important in ensuring a successful disaster recovery process.

  • A disaster recovery plan template is a document that provides a framework for developing a disaster recovery plan. It includes information about the company’s systems and data and a strategy for recovering the company’s systems and data. The template, like the one provided by PandaDoc, should be customizable to fit the company’s specific needs and tested by simulating a disaster.

  • The seven tiers of disaster recovery are

    1. preparation,

    2. prevention,

    3. mitigation,

    4. preparedness,

    5. response,

    6. recovery, and

    7. restoration.

    Together, they make up a comprehensive disaster recovery plan that organizations should develop and implement.

  • There are three main methods for recovering systems:

    1. manual recovery,

    2. image-based recovery, and

    3. virtualization-based recovery.

    Each method has advantages and disadvantages, so choosing the best method for your company’s needs is essential.

Disclaimer

Materials (e.g. templates, educational articles, blog posts and informational content), made available through PandaDoc, including via any integrations, connectors, extensions, plugins, or third-party AI platforms (e.g. ChatGPT, Claude, or similar tools) are for general information purposes only and are provided "as is." These materials do not constitute legal, regulatory, or compliance advice and should not be construed as such. It is your responsibility to ensure materials meet your specific legal requirements. Consult a qualified attorney licensed in your jurisdiction before relying on these materials. PandaDoc disclaims all warranties, express or implied, including fitness for a particular purpose or non-infringement.

Related templates

Appointment Request Form

Appointment Request Form

Create appointment request forms in a few clicks. Add electronic signatures, rich media, and drag-and-drop information fields. Streamline your document workflows.

CRO Proposal Template

CRO Proposal Template

Recruitment Proposal Template

Recruitment Proposal Template

Content Mapping Template

Content Mapping Template

Optimize your content strategy and drive engagement with our user-friendly and customizable Content Mapping Template.

PandaDoc
PandaDoc
Templates
Close
Templates
Close

available

e-Sign with PandaDoc

Disaster Recovery Plan Template

Used 5,018 times

AI BadgeAI assistant included

An interruption or disaster can be handled by the organization using the methods of a disaster recovery plan. You may develop a successful disaster recovery strategy for your company with our Disaster Recovery Plan Template.

Use this template — free
Use this template — free

Care to rate this template?

Your rating will help others.

Rate this template

Thanks for your rate!

Template preview