In an IT disaster recovery plan, what should the IS auditor primarily ensure is covered?

In an IT disaster recovery plan, the focus should be on the analysis and prioritization of business functions because this step is critical for ensuring that resources are allocated effectively when a disaster occurs. An IS auditor must verify that the organization understands which business functions are essential for operations, which can be restored quickly, and which can afford to have a longer recovery time. This prioritization helps in making informed decisions about where to invest in recovery resources and reduces downtime, ultimately ensuring business continuity.

Understanding the importance of business functions allows organizations to tailor their disaster recovery strategies to meet the unique needs of their operations, aligning recovery efforts with the overall business objectives. This leads to more efficient recovery processes, minimizing impacts on critical services and systems.

While elements like a resilient IT infrastructure, information on alternate sites, and documented test results are important, they serve to support the primary goal of maintaining essential business functions, making them secondary to the need for thorough analysis and prioritization.