On March 26, 2013, CU*Answers, a 100% credit union-owned CUSO, presented a web-based Education Express course for credit unions on disaster recovery planning and the importance of plan testing and exercising.
As part of CU*Answers rigorous continuity and recovery plan test and exercise schedule, the ability to recover critical core processing in an effective and efficient manner at an alternate IBM BCRS hot-site is verified. In advance of this annual test, information is provided to key stakeholders keeping them up-to-date on the continuous efforts taken to provide core services during and following planned and unplanned interruptions.
In preparation for this annual event, a web-based, instructor-led presentation was provided covering the following key topics:
- The purpose of the disaster recovery plan and its role in the business continuity strategy
- Vital components required for a successful recovery
- How to conduct a recovery plan test (available methods and tools)
- The benefits of testing and exercising the recovery plan
- The procedures included in the CU*Answers’ disaster recovery test
- Disaster recovery planning and testing at the credit union
The presenter, Jim Lawrence, CBCP, is the Manager of Disaster Recovery and Business Resumption Services at CU*Answers overseeing continuity and recovery planning for all production and high-availability datacenters and operations. As an experienced and certified business continuity professional, Jim is a valuable resource to help member credit unions facilitate their business continuity initiative, whether it’s to help design and implement a new program or give an existing one the boost that it needs.
Additional information regarding the CU*Answers Disaster Recovery and High Availability programs can be found at http://www.cuanswers.com/bcp/