Establish and Maintain a Data Recovery Process
Description
Establish and maintain a data recovery process. In the process, address the scope of data recovery activities, recovery prioritization, and the security of backup data. Review and update documentation annually, or when significant enterprise changes occur that could impact this Safeguard.
Implementation Checklist
Tool Recommendations
Enterprise backup, recovery, and data security platform for virtual, physical, cloud, and SaaS workloads
Veeam · Per-workload subscription
Enterprise data protection platform with backup, recovery, ransomware detection, and cyber deception
Commvault · Per-workload subscription
Zero Trust data security platform with immutable backups, ransomware monitoring, and automated recovery
Rubrik · Per-workload subscription
Threats & Vulnerabilities (CIS RAM)
Threat Scenarios
Ransomware Destroying Data with No Recovery Path
AvailabilityRansomware encrypts critical business data and the organization has no documented recovery process, recovery priorities, or tested procedures, resulting in chaotic response, extended downtime, and potential permanent data loss.
Extended Outage from Undefined Recovery Priorities
AvailabilityA major incident destroys data across multiple systems, and without a documented recovery process defining which systems and data sets to restore first, teams waste time recovering low-priority systems while critical business operations remain offline.
Backup Data Compromise Due to Undefined Security Requirements
ConfidentialityBackup data is stored without encryption or access controls because the recovery process documentation does not address backup security requirements, allowing attackers to access sensitive backup data or encrypt backup repositories.
Vulnerabilities (When Safeguard Absent)
No Documented Data Recovery Process
The organization has no written data recovery process defining recovery scope, priorities, responsible parties, or procedures, leaving data recovery dependent on ad-hoc individual knowledge during crisis situations.
Undefined Recovery Prioritization and RTO/RPO Targets
Without a documented recovery process, the organization has no defined Recovery Time Objectives (RTO) or Recovery Point Objectives (RPO) for different data classifications, preventing informed decisions about backup frequency and recovery sequencing.
Evidence Requirements
| Type | Evidence Item | Collection Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Document | Recovery plan documentation | Reviewed annually |
| Record | Recovery test results and lessons learned | Tested quarterly |
| Technical | Backup job status reports and success rates | Reviewed weekly |
| Record | Backup restoration test results | Tested quarterly |
| Document | Governing policy document (current, approved, communicated) | Reviewed annually |