Hurricane season is here, and for small and medium-sized businesses, preparation means more than boarding up windows or securing the office. Severe weather can disrupt operations, damage critical equipment, and compromise your data security. That’s why disaster recovery testing should be on your checklist before the storms arrive.
What is disaster recovery testing?
Disaster recovery testing involves reviewing and practicing your company’s recovery plan to confirm you’re prepared for emergencies. It verifies that your systems, data, and people are ready to respond effectively. Without testing, you won’t know if your plan works until it’s too late — and by then, the damage may already be done.
Why test your disaster recovery plan before a storm
Testing your disaster recovery plan provides many benefits, including:
- Uncovering hidden weaknesses: Testing exposes problems such as backups that don’t work, employees missing access credentials, or critical applications that can’t be accessed remotely.
- Building confidence through practice: Even the best plans fall apart when panic sets in. A tested recovery plan confirms everyone knows their role, reduces human error, and gives your team the confidence to act quickly when it matters most.
- Reducing costly downtime: Every minute your business is offline costs money and damages customer trust. Disaster recovery testing helps you meet your recovery time objective (i.e., the time it takes to restore operations), allowing you to minimize interruptions.
- Gaining true peace of mind: Knowing your plan actually works turns hurricane-season anxiety into confidence.
| Read also: Hurricane season: Business continuity planning tips for SMBs |
A step-by-step guide to testing your disaster recovery plan
Follow these steps to effectively test your plan:
Step 1: Review and update your disaster recovery plan
Before diving into testing, confirm your disaster recovery plan is current. Ask the following questions:
- Is the employee contact list accurate?
- Are vendors’ phone numbers and account details correct?
- Does your inventory reflect your current hardware and software?
Working from outdated information can create chaos in a real emergency.
Step 2: Choose the right type of test
Testing can take many forms, from tabletop exercises to full-scale simulations. Choose the method that aligns with your current level of preparedness.
| Test type | Description | Best for |
| Tabletop | A discussion-based walkthrough of a disaster scenario; no technology involved | Businesses new to testing or validating roles, responsibilities, and communication plans |
| Partial failover | Testing the recovery of selected noncritical systems in a sandboxed environment to see if they can be restored | Verifying specific backup procedures and recovery steps without disrupting daily operations |
| Full failover | A comprehensive test where operations are completely shifted over to backup systems | Businesses with mature recovery plans and minimal downtime tolerance; often requires expert support |
Step 3: Schedule the test and prepare your team
Treat the test as a priority project. Plan it in advance, notify your team of the date and time, and clearly define each member’s role and responsibilities. The objective is to evaluate the plan, not catch your team off guard.
Step 4: Execute the test and document everything
During the test, record every detail meticulously:
- What actions were taken, and by whom?
- How long did each step take?
- What went smoothly, and where did issues arise?
Thorough documentation is crucial for making meaningful improvements.
Step 5: Conduct a postmortem and refine your plan
Bring your team together right after the test. Celebrate what worked, identify gaps, and create an action plan with deadlines to correct weaknesses. Each test should make your recovery plan stronger and more reliable.
Protecting your business before the storm
Hurricane season won’t wait for you to be ready. Begin disaster recovery testing now while conditions are calm and your team has time to prepare. A few hours invested in testing could mean the difference between maintaining business continuity and facing costly downtime.
Feeling uncertain about where to start? You don’t have to navigate this process alone. The IT experts at SpectrumWise can create and test a robust disaster recovery plan for your business. Schedule a consultation with us and safeguard your operations before the next storm hits.