Plán procesu obnovy a zotavení IT systémů a dat po havárii. Často zahrnuje řešení pro zálohování a obnovu, redundanci a obnovu dat a plánování kontinuity provozu (Business Continuity Plan).

What is disaster recovery plan?

Disaster recovery plan (DR plan) is a structured set of actions and tools designed to restore an organization’s IT infrastructure, systems, and data after a crisis. This may include events like cyberattacks, server failures, natural disasters, or human error. The main goal is to minimize downtime and operational impact. A DR plan is an essential part of any company’s broader business continuity strategy.

How disaster recovery plan applies in practice?

Examples of common use cases:

• A ransomware attack encrypts company data – the DR plan defines where to restore backups from and how to resume operations quickly.
• The primary accounting server fails – the DR plan triggers a switch to a backup server at an alternate location.
• A data center is damaged in a fire – the plan activates a recovery infrastructure and outlines emergency recovery steps.
• A system update causes service failure – the DR plan guides a rollback to the last known stable version.
• A key cloud service goes offline for an extended period – the DR plan includes a contingency for alternative solutions.

These examples show that a well-prepared DR plan can make the difference between a manageable recovery and a crisis that threatens operations, trust, and revenue.

Disaster recovery vs. related concepts

• Disaster recovery vs. business continuity
  Disaster recovery focuses specifically on restoring IT systems and data. Business continuity is broader, covering alternate workspaces, staffing, and communication strategies.
• Disaster recovery vs. backups
  Backups are tools. A DR plan defines what to restore, when, and how. Backups without a plan are often useless in critical moments.
• Disaster recovery vs. incident response
  Incident response addresses the immediate reaction to an incident (e.g., stopping an attack). The DR plan takes over after the incident, focusing on restoration.

Understanding these differences ensures the right processes are triggered at the right time—and that teams know their roles.

How to implement disaster recovery plan in your company

Recommended steps:

• Identify all critical IT systems and dependencies.
• Define RTO and RPO for each – acceptable downtime and data loss.
• Create recovery scenarios for different types of incidents, including roles and responsibilities.
• Test technical recovery options – backups, replication, failover systems.
• Schedule DR tests at least annually or after major IT changes.
• Maintain clear documentation – ensure offline copies exist and are accessible.
• Train key personnel on what to do during a disaster.

Many businesses have backups but no concrete plan for using them during a crisis. A disaster recovery plan is not a luxury—it’s a critical risk management tool. When properly designed and tested, it can protect your data, operations, and reputation when it matters most.