NASDAQ's Best Practices
DISASTER RECOVERY - NASDAQ'S BEST PRACTICES
CIO Asia Magazine ( January / February 2002 Issue )
NASDAQ, whose 1 Liberty Plaza headquarters is next to
the World Trade Centre, has itemized lessons learned from
the September 11 terrorist attacks.
- Have a disaster recovery and business continuity plan. Communicate it, rehearse it, keep it updated. A backup plan is not a disaster recovery plan.
- Ensure a means of communication for decision making and dissemination of information both internally and externally. Consider all audiences: employees, family members, customers, supply chain partners, other companies in your industry, regulatory bodies, vendors, government entities and law enforcement.
- Establish a process or principle for decision authority. Who is in charge at all times and how will you know?
- Know in advance and coordinate with those you may need help from (government, law enforcement, utilities, fuel, transport, food, housing).
- Design and test for resilience at a business level. Among other things, understand the worst possible case and plan flawlessly for the pragmatic case; cross-train personnel in alternate facilities for business recovery operations; provide physical sites for diverted staff; and build in vendor diversity.
- Make sure to attend to creature comforts, including basics such as food, water, rest, shelter and heat, as well as stress and psychological relief.
- Have a plan to get back to "normal" as soon as possible. This applies to both working conditions and business activities.
- Communicate often. In a disaster, people crave information.
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