Natural Disaster Chapter 7

The purpose of a disaster recovery program is indeed to provide direction and guidance for all disaster recovery operations. This program helps organizations prepare for and respond to potential disasters, ensuring that they have a plan in place to recover and restore their operations in the event of a disruption. It outlines the steps and procedures to be followed, assigns responsibilities, and ensures coordination among various stakeholders. Therefore, the statement "True" accurately reflects the purpose of a disaster recovery program.

A WAN that hosts a mission-critical distributed system may require a more complete and robust recovery strategy because the distributed system is crucial for the organization's operations. Any downtime or failure in the system can have severe consequences, such as financial loss or disruption of services. Therefore, it is necessary to have a comprehensive recovery strategy in place to ensure quick restoration of the system in case of any failure or disaster. On the other hand, a WAN connecting multiple LANs for simple resource sharing purposes may not require such an extensive recovery strategy as the impact of any downtime or failure may not be as significant.

In disaster recovery, triggers are events that initiate the recovery process. These triggers can be caused by various factors, but in most cases, they are in response to natural events such as earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, or wildfires. These natural disasters often result in significant damage and disruption, making it necessary for organizations to activate their disaster recovery plans to restore operations and mitigate further loss. Therefore, the statement "most triggers are in response to one or more natural events" is true.

The given correct answer for this question is "after-action review (AAR), after action review, AAR." An after-action review is a comprehensive evaluation of the events that took place from the initial detection to the ultimate recovery. It involves analyzing the actions taken, identifying strengths and weaknesses, and determining areas for improvement. The AAR helps in learning from past experiences and enhancing future performance.

Servers are computer systems or software that provide various services and functionalities to other devices or users on a network. They support file sharing and storage, data processing, central application hosting, printing, access control, user authentication, remote access connectivity, and other shared network services. Servers act as a central hub for managing and distributing resources and information across a network, making them essential for efficient and secure network operations.

Disaster response, similar to incident response, typically begins with a trigger. A trigger is an event or situation that initiates the response to a disaster or incident. It serves as a starting point for the response team to identify and assess the situation, determine the necessary actions, and mobilize resources accordingly. Triggers can vary depending on the nature of the disaster, such as natural disasters like earthquakes or floods, or human-made incidents like fires or terrorist attacks. Regardless of the specific trigger, it serves as the catalyst for the disaster response process.

Slow onset disasters occur over time and slowly deteriorate the capacity of an organization to withstand their effects. Unlike rapid onset disasters that happen suddenly, slow onset disasters gradually unfold, giving organizations time to prepare and respond. These disasters include events such as droughts, famines, and climate change, which can have long-term impacts on an organization's resources, infrastructure, and overall resilience. The slow and gradual nature of these disasters makes it challenging for organizations to recognize and respond effectively, leading to a deterioration in their ability to cope with the disaster's effects.

Distributed system contingency strategies typically reflect the system's reliance on both LAN (local area network) and WAN (wide area network) availability. This means that the system's backup plans and strategies are designed to account for the availability of both the local network within a specific geographic area (LAN) and the wider network that spans across larger distances (WAN). These strategies ensure that the distributed system can continue to function and communicate effectively even in the event of network failures or disruptions in either the local or wide area network.

Follow-on incidents are highly probable when infected machines are brought back online or when other infected computers that may have been offline at the time of the attack are brought back up. This means that after an initial cyber attack, there is a high likelihood of additional incidents occurring when the affected machines are reconnected to the network or when previously offline machines are turned on. These follow-on incidents can involve further malware infections, data breaches, or other malicious activities.

Contingency consideration for desktop and portable systems should emphasize data availability, confidentiality, and integrity. This means that when planning for unforeseen events or emergencies, such as system failures or security breaches, it is important to prioritize ensuring that data is accessible, protected from unauthorized access, and remains intact. Contingency planning involves developing strategies and procedures to mitigate risks and minimize the impact of potential disruptions to the system.

After completing their tasks, the Incident Response (IR) team needs to conduct an after-action review. This review allows the team to assess their performance during the incident and identify any areas that need improvement. It helps them analyze what went well and what could have been done differently, ensuring that they can learn from their experience and enhance their future response capabilities. By conducting an after-action review, the IR team can continuously improve their skills and strategies, ultimately enhancing their effectiveness in handling future incidents.

After the incident has been contained and all signs of the incident removed, the "action after" phase begins. This phase refers to the steps and measures taken after the incident to prevent future occurrences, address any remaining issues, and restore normalcy. It involves analyzing the incident, evaluating the response, implementing corrective actions, and conducting post-incident reviews to improve preparedness and response capabilities.

Rapid onset disasters are events that happen suddenly and unexpectedly, causing loss of life and damaging the infrastructure and resources needed for production. These disasters can include natural events like earthquakes, hurricanes, or floods, as well as man-made events like explosions or terrorist attacks. The lack of warning and the sudden impact make rapid onset disasters particularly devastating and difficult to prepare for or mitigate.

A DR planning document is a comprehensive guide that outlines the specific and detailed steps to be taken in order to restore lost or damaged capability. It provides guidance and procedures for all aspects of disaster recovery, including identifying potential risks, establishing recovery objectives, implementing recovery strategies, and coordinating the recovery process. This document is essential for organizations to effectively respond to and recover from any disruptive event or disaster.

Contingency solutions refer to the measures taken to address unexpected events or situations. In the context of a website, contingency solutions would involve planning and implementing strategies to ensure the reliability and availability of the website and its resources in the face of potential disruptions or failures. This could include backup systems, disaster recovery plans, and redundancy measures to minimize downtime and maintain uninterrupted access for users.

Electrostatic discharge is not usually an insurable loss because it refers to the sudden flow of electricity between two objects with different electrical charges. This type of event is typically unpredictable and difficult to control, making it challenging for insurance companies to assess and quantify the risk associated with it. Additionally, electrostatic discharge may cause damage to electronic devices or systems, but it is often considered a preventable or manageable risk through proper grounding and safety measures. Therefore, it is not commonly included in standard insurance coverage.

A rapid onset disaster refers to a sudden and unexpected event that occurs with little to no warning, causing widespread destruction and loss of life. Earthquakes, floods, storm winds, tornadoes, and mud flows are all examples of such disasters that can occur suddenly and have immediate and devastating impacts. These events often require rapid response and emergency measures to mitigate the damage and provide assistance to affected populations.

Forensics analysis is the process of systematically examining information assets for evidentiary material that can provide insight into how an incident transpired. It involves collecting, preserving, analyzing, and presenting digital evidence in a way that is admissible in a court of law. By conducting a thorough forensics analysis, investigators can uncover details about the incident, such as the cause, the individuals involved, and the timeline of events. This analysis is crucial in understanding the nature of the incident and can help in identifying and prosecuting the responsible parties.

In developing the LAN contingency plan, the contingency planning coordinator should identify single points of failure that affect critical systems or processes outlined in the BIA. Single points of failure refer to components or elements within the LAN that, if they fail, can cause the entire system to fail or significantly impact its performance. By identifying these single points of failure, the coordinator can then implement appropriate measures to mitigate the risks associated with them, ensuring the continuity and reliability of the LAN.

Contingency strategies should emphasize the mainframe's data storage capabilities and underlying architecture. Contingency planning involves preparing for potential disruptions or failures in a system. In the context of a mainframe, this means ensuring that data storage capabilities are robust and can handle unexpected events. Emphasizing the underlying architecture is important because it ensures that the mainframe is designed in a way that supports effective data storage and recovery in case of contingencies.

A LAN (Local Area Network) is owned by a single organization and can vary in size, ranging from just two PCs connected to a single hub to supporting multiple servers and hundreds of users. It is a network infrastructure that allows for the sharing of resources and communication within a limited geographical area, such as a home, office, or campus.

When selecting an off-site storage location for data backups or stored equipment, it is important to decrease, not increase, the risk at that storage location. The purpose of off-site storage is to provide a secure and protected environment for the data or equipment. Increasing the risk at the storage location would defeat the purpose and potentially expose the data or equipment to damage or unauthorized access. Therefore, the statement is false.

Natural disasters such as earthquakes cannot be mitigated with multipurpose casualty insurance alone. While insurance can provide financial protection and aid in recovery efforts, it cannot prevent or fully mitigate the physical damage caused by earthquakes. Additional measures such as building codes, infrastructure improvements, and emergency preparedness are necessary to minimize the impact of earthquakes. Therefore, the statement is false.

In disaster recovery, a trigger is the point at which a management decision to react is made in response to a notice or other data. This trigger could be a weather report or an activity report from IT indicating the escalation of an incident. It serves as a signal for the organization to initiate their disaster recovery plan and take necessary actions to mitigate the impact of the disaster.

In the event of a hacker attack, follow-on incidents are likely to occur when the attacker retreats to a chat room and shares specific details about their latest conquest with their associates. These follow-on incidents refer to subsequent attacks or actions that are carried out as a result of the initial hacker attack. The term "follow-on" suggests that these incidents are a direct consequence or continuation of the original attack, potentially involving further exploitation or damage.

The correct answer is BIA, which stands for Business Impact Analysis. BIA is a process that identifies and assesses the potential impacts of disruptions to an organization's critical business operations. It helps determine the recovery requirements and priorities by analyzing the impact of various scenarios on the organization's applications and support systems. By conducting a BIA, organizations can prioritize their recovery efforts and allocate resources effectively to minimize the impact of disruptions.

Redundant system components are critical to ensure that a failure of a system component, such as a power supply, does not cause a system failure. Redundancy refers to the use of backup or duplicate components that can take over in case of a failure, thereby preventing a complete system failure. This redundancy ensures that the system remains operational even if one component fails, increasing reliability and minimizing downtime. Contingency planning and Business Impact Analysis (BIA) may also be important in assessing and mitigating risks, but they do not directly address the need for redundant system components.

Contingency considerations specifically designed for WAN services can improve the capability of recovery personnel to restore the functionality of the Wide Area Network after any disruption or incident. These considerations may involve backup systems, alternative routing options, redundancy measures, and disaster recovery plans that can be implemented to minimize downtime and ensure the prompt restoration of WAN services.

Disaster recovery planning refers to the process of preparing for and responding to a disaster, whether it is caused by natural events like hurricanes or earthquakes, or man-made incidents like cyber attacks or terrorist attacks. It involves creating strategies and protocols to minimize damage, ensure the safety of individuals, and restore essential services and operations as quickly as possible. By having a well-developed disaster recovery plan in place, organizations can effectively manage and recover from adverse events, minimizing the impact on their operations and ensuring business continuity.

Distributed systems are implemented in environments where clients and users are widely dispersed. This means that the system is designed to handle and distribute tasks across multiple locations or nodes, allowing for better scalability, fault tolerance, and improved performance. By distributing the workload, the system can handle a large number of users and clients, even if they are geographically dispersed. This ensures that the system remains efficient and accessible to all users regardless of their location.

The correct answer is "contingency planning management team (CPMT)". The CPMT is responsible for assembling a disaster recovery team. They are in charge of developing and implementing plans to ensure business continuity in the event of a disaster or emergency. This team is crucial in identifying potential risks, creating strategies to mitigate those risks, and coordinating the response and recovery efforts if a disaster occurs.