Risk assessment is a comprehensive process involving the identification, analysis, and evaluation of all potential risks, hazards, and threats to an entity’s external and internal environments. This process includes assessing vulnerabilities to weather-related threats, hazards specific to the local area, HVAC failures, and weaknesses within the organization’s security standards.
When an entity faces such threats, the assessment process requires documenting the measures taken or planned to address these issues. Therefore, by identifying risks and considering potential threat mitigation measures, a business can devise a list of optimal actions to improve conditions, mainly concerning local risks.
An entity needs to identify its risks or threats and assess their likelihood, potential consequences, and vulnerabilities to develop preventive and strategic recovery measures. Additional benefits of risk identification include:
- Highlighting previously overlooked risks or threats that require procedural and planning attention.
- Identifying weaknesses in preventive measures that need addressing or review.
- Emphasizing the importance of contingency planning, which involves engaging all staff members in the organization.
- Facilitating the documentation of interdependent relationships between departments, thereby promoting collaboration among internal groups while also highlighting weaknesses in relationships between sensitive departments.
For the process to be easier all risks have been categorized to enhance concentration on each of them. Therefore, these are the categories that you will find attached to the Risk Assessment survey:
- Natural risks
- Man-made
- Environmental
Identifying Risks / Threats
It is important to establish the nature of each risk and threat regardless of its type of category and factors to consider are as follows though not limited to.
- Geographic Location
- Weather Patterns for the Area and Surrounding Areas
- Internal Hazards (HVAC, Facility Security, Access, etc)
- Proximity to Local Response/Support Units
- External Hazards (neighboring Highways, Plants, etc)
Potential exposures may be classified as:
- Facility Related: Bomb Threat, Chemical Spills, Civil Disturbance, Electrical Failure, Fire, HVAC Failure, Water Leaks, Work Stoppage / Strike
- Technology Related: Human Error, Loss of Telecommunications, Data Center Outage, Lost / Corrupted Data, Loss of Local Network Services, Power Failure, Prolonged Technology Outage, UPS / Generator Loss of service.
- Weather-Related: Earthquake, Flood / Flash Flood, Hurricanes / Tropical Storms, Severe Thunderstorms, Tornado, Winter Storms
Objectives
The purpose of this Risk Assessment Guide document is to assist the business conduct a Risk Assessment, which discovers the present risks and threats to the business and implements procedures to eradicate or decrease those potential risks. This document endows guidance on how to conduct the Risk Assessment, evaluate the information that is assembled, and put into practice strategies that will permit the business to manage the risk. The following documents are available to help the business complete the assessment:
- Risk Assessment Template
- Risk Assessment Worksheet
- Facility RA Findings Report
- Executive RA Findings Report
- Examples of Preventative Measures
The Risk Assessment is merely part one of an overall Business Assessment. A Business Assessment is alienated into two constituents, Risk Assessment and Business Impact Analysis (BIA). The Risk Assessment is intended to evaluate current vulnerabilities to the business’s environment, while the Business Impact Analysis evaluates probable loss that could result during a disaster. To maximize the Risk Assessment, a Business Impact Analysis should also be completed.
Table of Contents of Conducting a Risk Assessment
INTRODUCTION
Scope
RISK ASSESSMENT
Risk Assessment Process
What Should Be Included?
Steps to Follow
ASSESSING YOUR RISK
Probability of Occurrence
Vulnerability to Risk
Potential Impact
Preventative Measures in Place
Insurance Coverage
Past Experiences
ANALYZING THE RESULTS
Follow-Up Meetings
Report the Results
FINAL REPORT & PRESENTATION
Presenting the Results
Next Steps
Conclusion
KEYS FOR SUCCESS
Effective Data Gathering Tools
Key Resources
Critical Data
Executive Report
APPENDIX ITEMS
Appendix B: Risk Assessment Worksheet
Appendix C: Facility Risk Assessment Report
Appendix D: Executive Risk Assessment Report
Appendix E: Examples of Preventative Measures
Objective
Due to many regulatory compliance rule regulations, your organization must implement Business Resumption Plan, Business Continuity Plan, and Business Analysis Plan to ensure the protection of data. In order to carry out this undertaking, there are numerous steps that your organization will be carried out to detect critical business functions, processes, and applications that process vital data and to understand the potential impact to the business if a disruptive event occurred.
One of the first steps of implementing the Business Resumption Plan for your organization is to conduct a Risk Assessment (RA). This questionnaire will assist you to detect the present risks and threats to the business and put into practice measures to eradicate or lessen those potential risks. Once the survey is completed, the RA Project team will examine the data and create prioritized risk reduction (mitigation) strategies to present to senior management.
Table of Contents of Risk Assessment Template
OBJECTIVE
GENERAL INFORMATION
Respondent Information
Company Information
PREVIOUS DISRUPTIONS
Facility Related
Technology Related
Weather Related
NATURAL & MAN-MADE RISKS & THREATS
Natural Risks / Threats
Man-Made Risks / Threats
ENVIRONMENT & FACILITY RISKS
Environment Risks / Threats
Facility Risks / Threat
PREVENTATIVE MEASURES
Hazardous Materials
Fire Containment
Emergency Notification, Evacuations, Alarms & Exits
Facility Features, Security, & Access
HVAC
Utilities
Data Center (Technologies)
Natural Risks
The natural risks are typically linked with weather-related events: flooding, high winds, severe storms, tornado, hurricanes, fire, high winds, snowstorms, and ice storms.
|
Risk / Threat |
Preventative Measures |
| Earthquakes |
|
Man-Made Risks
The man-made risks are typically linked with the man-made type of events: Bomb threats, vandalism, terrorism, civil disorder, sabotage, hazardous waste, work stoppage (internal/external), and computer crime.
|
Risk / Threat |
Preventative Measures |
| Staff Productivity Risks |
|
Environmental Risks
The environmental risks are typically linked with exposures from surrounding facilities, businesses, government agencies, etc.
|
Risk / Threat |
Preventative Measures |
| Hazardous Materials Plant |
|
| Address of Location: | |
| Participant: | Date of Report: |
The interview was conducted by on.
Overview of Facility Business Operations
The is responsible for
Previous Disruption Experiences
Risks & Vulnerabilities
Natural Risks
The Natural risks are typically linked with weather-related events: flooding, high winds, severe storms, tornado, hurricanes, fire, high winds, snowstorms, and ice storms. In each RA Survey, the facilities manager was asked to identify potential natural risks and rate the severity of each.
Summary of Natural Risks
For the location of this facility and historical weather patterns, it has been stated that pose the biggest threat.
How the risk ranking was determined: Overall Risk = Probability * Severity (Magnitude – Mitigation)
|
Threat |
Probability |
Magnitude |
Mitigation |
Overall Risk |
| Drought | ||||
| Earthquake | ||||
| Fire | ||||
| Flood / Flash Flooding | ||||
| Hurricane / Tropical Storm | ||||
| Ice Storms | ||||
| Landslides | ||||
| Severe Thunderstorms | ||||
| Tornado | ||||
| Wildfire |
Objective
The Risk Assessment (RA) Policy document establishes the activities that require being carried out by each Business Unit, Technology Unit, and Corporate Units (departments) within the organization.
All departments must use this methodology to detect present risks and threats to the business and put into practice measures to eradicate or decrease those potential risks.
Table of Contents for Risk Assessment Policy
TERMINOLOGY
ACCOUNTABILITY
COMPLIANCE
REVISION HISTORY
ENDORSEMENT
I. POLICY OVERVIEW
A. Purpose
B. Scope
C. Ownership Roles & Responsibilities
D. Review Process
E. Reporting Process
F. Update Frequency and Annual Review
G. Approval
II. RA REQUIREMENTS
A. RA Completion
B. Risks and Threats Identification
C. Probability of Occurrence
D. Vulnerability to Risk
E. Potential Impact of Risk
F. Preventative Measures
G. Insurance Coverage
H. Previous Disruptions
III. RA RESULTS
A. Overall Facility Risk
B. Communication
C. Retention of RA Survey
APPENDIX
Appendix A – Risk Assessment Standards
Objective
The intention of the Application & Data Criticality Analysis is to determine the criticality to covered entity of all application-based components and the potential losses which may be incurred if these components were not available for a period of time. This questionnaire is designed to collect the information necessary to support the development of alternative processing strategies, solutions and IS Recovery plans.
The Business Impact Analysis (BIA) should be fulfilled prior to this engagement. The outcome of the BIA should be used to assess technology requirements based on the business needs.
This questionnaire also serves as a compliance method for meeting many regulatory compliance rule requirements for Application & Data Criticality Analysis.
Table of Contents of Applications and Data Criticality Analysis Template
OBJECTIVE
RESPONDENT INFORMATION
APPLICATION INFORMATION
Application Information
Application Specifications
Application Users
Application Service Providers
Application Vulnerability
Application Recovery Complexity
Application Recovery Plan
Application Recovery History
Application Standard Operating Procedures
Application Source Code and Backup Information
Application Dependencies
Application Data Reconstruction
DATABASE INFORMATION
Database Information
Database Service Providers
Database Vulnerability
Database Recovery Complexity
Database Recovery Information
Database Recovery History
Database Standard Operating Procedures
Database Backup Information
Database Backup Tape Information
HARDWARE (SYSTEM) INFORMATION
Hardware Information
Hardware Environment Information
Hardware Service Providers
Hardware Vulnerability
Hardware Recovery Complexity
Hardware Recovery Plan
Hardware Recovery History
Hardware Backup Information
Hardware Backup Tape Information
NETWORK INFORMATION
Network Equipment Requirements
Network Service Providers
Network Vulnerability
Network Recovery Complexity
Network Recovery Plan
Network Recovery History
Network Standard Operating Procedures
Purpose
This Application Recovery Plan documents the strategies, personnel, procedures, and resources necessary to recover the Application following any type of short or long-term disruption. The following objectives have been established for this plan:
- Maximize the value of business resumption, business impact analysis, and disaster recovery planning by establishing recovery plans that consist of the following phases:
- Notification / Activation: To activate the plan and notify vendors, customers, employees, etc of the recovery activities
- Recovery Phase: To recovery and resume temporary IT operations on alternate hardware (equipment) and possibly at an alternate location
- Restoration Phase: To restore IT systems processing capabilities to normal operations at the primary location or the new location
- Define the activities, procedures, and essential resources required to perform processing requirements during prolonged periods of disruption to normal operations.
- Allocate responsibilities to designated personnel and provide guidance for recovering during prolong periods of interruption to normal operations.
- Make certain coordination with other Staff is conducted.
- Ensure coordination with external contacts, like vendors, suppliers, etc. who will participate in the recovery process.
Table of Contents for Applications Recovery Plan Template
PLAN MAINTENANCE
PLAN EXERCISE
PLAN LOCATION
PLAN DISTRIBUTION
PLAN INTRODUCTION
Purpose
Applicability
Scope
Assumptions
Use Of This Plan
APPLICATION PROFILE
Application Specifications
Server Requirements
Database Requirements
Network Requirements
Input (Feeders) Dependencies on Applications / Systems
Output (Receivers) Dependencies on Applications / Systems
Business Processes
PLAN ACTIVATION PROCEDURES
Plan Activation Team
TEAM MEMBERS & RESPONSIBILITIES
Activate Team Members
Travel to Alternate Location
RECOVERY PROCEDURES
Restore Application Services
File Verification Tasks
Application Validation and Synchronization Tasks
Restoration Procedures
Original or New Site Restoration
Concurrent Processing
Plan Deactivation
APPENDIX
Appendix A: Employee Contact List
Appendix B: Vendor Contact List
Purpose
This Database Disaster Recovery Plan documents the strategies, personnel, procedures, and resources necessary to recover the Database following any type of short or long-term disruption. The following objectives have been established for this plan:
- Maximize the value of business resumption, business impact analysis, and disaster recovery planning by establishing recovery plans that consist of the following phases:
- Notification / Activation: To activate the plan and notify vendors, customers, employees, etc of the recovery activities
- Recovery Phase: To recovery and resume temporary IT operations on alternate hardware (equipment) and possibly at an alternate location
- Restoration Phase: To restore IT systems processing capabilities to normal operations at the primary location or the new location
- Define the activities, procedures, and essential resources required to perform processing requirements during prolonged periods of disruption to normal operations.
- Allocate responsibilities to designated personnel and provide guidance for recovering during prolong periods of interruption to normal operations.
- Make certain coordination with other Staff is conducted.
- Ensure coordination with external contacts, like vendors, suppliers, etc. who will participate in the recovery process.
Table of Contents for Database Recovery Plan Template
CONFIDENTIALITY STATEMENT
PLAN MAINTENANCE
PLAN EXERCISE
PLAN LOCATION
PLAN DISTRIBUTION
PLAN INTRODUCTION
Purpose
Applicability
Scope
Assumptions
Use of This Plan
DATABASE PROFILE
Database Specifications
Server Requirements
PLAN ACTIVATION PROCEDURES
Plan Activation Team
TEAM MEMBERS & RESPONSIBILITIES
Activate Team Members
Travel to Alternate Location
RECOVERY PROCEDURES
Restore Database Services
RESTORATION PROCEDURES
Original or New Site Restoration
Concurrent Processing
Plan Deactivation
APPENDIX
Appendix A: Employee Contact List
Appendix B: Vendor Contact List
Purpose
This Network Recovery Plan documents the strategies, personnel, procedures, and resources necessary to recover the network following any type of short or long-term disruption. The following objectives have been established for this plan:
- Maximize the value of business resumption, business impact analysis, and disaster recovery planning by establishing network recovery plans that consist of the following phases:
- Notification / Activation: To activate the plan and notify vendors, customers, employees, etc of the recovery activities
- Recovery Phase: To recovery and resume temporary IT operations on alternate hardware (equipment) and possibly at an alternate location
- Restoration Phase: To restore IT systems processing capabilities to normal operations at the primary location or the new location
- Define the activities, procedures, and essential resources required to perform network recovery during prolonged periods of disruption to normal operations.
- Allocate responsibilities to designated personnel and provide guidance for recovering the network during prolong periods of interruption to normal operations.
- Make certain coordination with other Staff is conducted.
Ensure coordination with external contacts, like vendors, suppliers, etc. who will participate in the recovery process.
Table of Contents of Network Recovery Plan Template
PLAN MAINTENANCE
PLAN EXERCISE
PLAN LOCATION
PLAN DISTRIBUTION
PLAN INTRODUCTION
Purpose
Applicability
Scope
Assumptions
Use of this Plan
NETWORK PROFILE
Network Specifications
Network Requirements
PLAN ACTIVATION PROCEDURES
Plan Activation Team
TEAM MEMBERS & RESPONSIBILITIES
Activate Team Members
Travel to Alternate Location
RECOVERY PROCEDURES
Restore Network Services
Restoration Procedures
Original or New Site Restoration
Concurrent Processing
Plan Deactivation
APPENDIX
Appendix A: Employee Contact List
Appendix B: Vendor Contact List
Appendix C: Network Diagrams
The complete technical recovery procedures for all components are located in the appendix given that these disaster recovery plans are modified on a regular basis owing to periodic configuration changes of the company’s Technology Environment. Moreover, with continual changes to the hardware, network, and operating systems (OS), technical documents such as the detailed individual DR Plans for this environment will be updated on a regular basis to make sure modifications in hardware and operating systems are reflected in the technical DR Procedures.
Table of Contents for Disaster Recovery Plan
CONFIDENTIALITY STATEMENT
PLAN MAINTENANCE
PLAN EXERCISE
PLAN LOCATION
PLAN DISTRIBUTION
MEDIA POLICY
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Definition of A Disaster
Disaster Declaration Criteria
QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE
SCOPE & OBJECTIVES
Scope of This Plan
Objectives of This Plan
RECOVERY STRATEGY
Recovery Strategy
Application & System Recovery
Network Recovery
Telecommunications Recovery
Contractual Agreement for Recovery Services
PLAN ASSUMPTIONS & EXPOSURES
Planning Assumptions
Known Exposures
DISASTER DECLARATION PROCEDURE
Declaration Authority
NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES
Notification & Activation Team
RECOVERY TEAMS
Management Team
Administrative Team
Alternate Site Team
Offsite Storage Team
CONTACT LISTS
Employee Contact Information
Department Notifications
Vendor Notification
Other Emergency Contact Numbers
ALTERNATE LOCATIONS
Assembly Site
Command Center
Recovery Site Information
OFFSITE STORAGE LOCATION
Offsite Storage Information
PLAN CERTIFICATION
Plan Certification
APPENDIX ITEMS
I. Application Technical Recovery
II. Systems Technical Recovery
III. Network Technical Recovery
IV. Telecommunications Technical Recovery
V. Database Technical Recovery
Appendix A – Employee Notification Procedures
Appendix B – Notification Log
Appendix C – Event / Disaster Information
Appendix D – Record Log
Appendix E – Alternate Site Authorization Form
Appendix F – Recovery Status Report
Appendix G – Disaster Recovery Report
Appendix H – Travel Accommodations Request Form
Appendix I – Employee Tracking Form
Appendix J – Assessing Potential Business Impact
Purpose
This Server Recovery Plan documents the strategies, personnel, procedures, and resources necessary to recover the Server following any type of short or long-term disruption. The following objectives have been established for this plan:
- Maximize the value of business resumption, business impact analysis, and disaster recovery planning by establishing server recovery plans that consist of the following phases:
- Notification / Activation: To activate the plan and notify vendors, customers, employees, etc of the recovery activities
- Recovery Phase: To recovery and resume temporary IT operations on alternate hardware (equipment) and possibly at an alternate location
- Restoration Phase: To restore IT systems processing capabilities to normal operations at the primary location or the new location
- Define the activities, procedures, and essential resources required to perform processing requirements during prolonged periods of disruption to normal operations.
- Allocate responsibilities to designated personnel and provide guidance for recovering during prolong periods of interruption to normal operations.
- Make certain coordination with other Staff is conducted.
- Ensure coordination with external contacts, like vendors, suppliers, etc. who will participate in the recovery process.
Table of Contents for Server Recovery Plan
CONFIDENTIALITY STATEMENT
PLAN MAINTENANCE
PLAN EXERCISE
PLAN LOCATION
PLAN DISTRIBUTION
PLAN INTRODUCTION
Purpose
Applicability
Scope
Assumptions
Use of this Plan
SERVER PROFILE
Server Specifications
Network Requirements
Applications
PLAN ACTIVATION PROCEDURES
Plan Activation Team
TEAM MEMBERS & RESPONSIBILITIES
Activate Team Members
Travel to Alternate Location
RECOVERY PROCEDURES
Restore Server Services
RESTORATION PROCEDURES
Original or New Site Restoration
Concurrent Processing
Plan Deactivation
APPENDIX
Appendix A: Employee Contact List
Appendix B: Vendor Contact List
Overview:
Telecommunications Recovery Plan documents the strategies, personnel, procedures, and resources necessary to recover the company’s Telecommunications following any type of short or long-term disruption. The following objectives have been established for this plan:
- Maximize the value of business resumption, business impact analysis, and disaster recovery planning by establishing telecommunications recovery plans that consist of the following phases:
- Notification / Activation: To activate the plan and notify vendors, customers, employees, etc of the recovery activities
- Recovery Phase: To recovery and resume temporary IT operations on alternate hardware (equipment) and possibly at an alternate location
- Restoration Phase: To restore IT systems processing capabilities to normal operations at the primary location or the new location
- Define the activities, procedures, and essential resources required to perform network recovery during prolonged periods of disruption to normal operations.
- Allocate responsibilities to designated personnel and provide guidance for recovering the network during prolong periods of interruption to normal operations.
- Make certain coordination with other staff is conducted.
- Ensure coordination with external contacts, like vendors, suppliers, etc. who will participate in the recovery process.
Table of Contents for Telecommunications Recovery Plan Template
CONFIDENTIALITY STATEMENT
PLAN MAINTENANCE
PLAN EXERCISE
PLAN LOCATION
PLAN DISTRIBUTION
PLAN INTRODUCTION
Purpose
Applicability
Scope
Assumptions
Use of this Plan
TELECOMMUNICATION PROFILE
Telecommunication Specifications
Telecommunication Requirements
PLAN ACTIVATION PROCEDURES
Plan Activation Team
TEAM MEMBERS & RESPONSIBILITIES
Activate Team Members
Travel to Alternate Location
RECOVERY PROCEDURES
Restore Telecommunication Services
RESTORATION PROCEDURES
Original or New Site Restoration
Concurrent Processing
Plan Deactivation
APPENDIX
Appendix A: Employee Contact List
Appendix B: Vendor Contact List
We offer the following risk assessment template suite along with comprehensive business continuity risk assessment templates:
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Package 9: Information Technologies Risk Assessment template (RA) with Data Center Recovery Templates (Click here for More Details…)
- Conducting a Risk Assessment Guide (15 pages)
- Risk Assessment Template (17 pages)
- Risk Assessment Worksheet (17 pages)
- Preventative Measures (6 pages)
- Example Completed Risk Assessment Template (17 pages)
- Example Completed Risk Assessment Worksheet (17 pages)
- Final Risk Assessment Executive Management Report Template w/ Charts (20 pages)
- Final Facility Risk Assessment Report Template w/ Charts (15 pages)
- Example Final Risk Assessment Executive Management Report (16 pages)
- Risk Analysis Policy (11 pages)
- Risk Analysis Standards (11 pages)
- Policy & Standards Instructions (3 pages)
- Applications and Data Criticality Analysis Template (24 pages)
- Example of Completed Application and Data Criticality Analysis Template (39 pages)
- Application Recovery Plan Template (23 pages)
- Application Recovery Plan Development Guide (18 pages)
- Database Recovery Plan Template (19 pages)
- Database Recovery Plan Development Guide (16 pages)
- Network Recovery Plan Template (20 pages)
- Network Recovery Plan Development Guide (15 pages)
- Disaster Recovery Plan Template (38 pages)
- Disaster Recovery Plan Development Guide (17 pages)
- Server Recovery Plan Template (19 pages)
- Server Recovery Plan Development Guide (15 pages)
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Package 8: Risk Assessment Template (RA) with Applications Data Analysis – Complete Package (Click here for More Details…)
- Conducting a Risk Assessment Guide (15 pages)
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- Risk Assessment Worksheet (17 pages)
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- Example Completed Risk Assessment Template (17 pages)
- Example Completed Risk Assessment Worksheet (17 pages)
- Final Risk Assessment Executive Management Report Template w/ Charts (20 pages)
- Final Facility Risk Assessment Report Template w/ Charts (15 pages)
- Example Final Risk Assessment Executive Management Report (16 pages)
- Risk Analysis Policy (11 pages)
- Risk Analysis Standards (11 pages)
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- Example of Completed Application and Data Criticality Analysis Template (39 pages)
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- Risk Assessment Worksheet (17 pages)
- Preventative Measures (6 pages)
- Example Completed Risk Assessment Template (17 pages)
- Example Completed Risk Assessment Worksheet (17 pages)
- Final Risk Assessment Executive Management Report Template w/ Charts (20 pages)
- Final Facility Risk Assessment Report Template w/ charts (15 pages)
- Example Final RA Executive Management Report (16 pages)
- Risk Assessment Policy (11 pages)
- Risk Assessment Standards (11 pages)
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