Compare and contrast the following disaster recovery options: mutual aid pact, empty shell, recovery operations
center, and internally provided
backup. Rank them from most risky to least risky, as well as most costly to least costly.
Rankings:
1 = highest; 4 = lowest
MUTUAL AID PACT
Considerations  A second site backup
agreement between two or
more firms with compatible
computer facilities to assist
each other with data
processing needs in an
emergency
 Requires two or more
organizations to agree and
trust one another to aid each
other with their data
processing needs in the event
of a disaster
Advantages  Inexpensive compared to
INTERNALLY PROVIDED
EMPTY SHELL
BACKUP
 Organizations with  Empty shell or cold site
multiple data plan is an arrangement
processing centers where the company
may invest in internal buys or leases a
excess capacity and building that will serve
support themselves in as a data center.
the case of disaster in  The space is made
one data processing ready for computer
center. installation; however,
no computer
equipment is installed.
 This method requires
lease or mortgage
payments, as well as
payment for air
conditioning and
raised floors.
 Reliance on another  In the event of a
RECOVERY OPERATIONS
CENTER
 A recovery operations
center (ROC) or hot
site is a fully equipped
backup data center
that many companies
share. In addition to
hardware and backup
facilities, ROC service
providers offer a range
of technical services to
their clients, who pay
an annual fee for
access rights.
 Before entering into
an ROC arrangement,
management should
consider the potential
problems of
overcrowding and
geographic clustering
of the current
membership.
 In the event of a major
 other DRP organization is not a disaster, the shell is disaster, a subscriber
factor available and ready to can occupy the
 Controlled by the firm receive whatever premises and, within a
 Compatibility of hardware the few hours, resume
hardware and temporary user needs processing critical
software to run essential applications. (Rapid
 Rapid initial recovery systems initial recovery)

Disadvantages  May encounter reluctance to  Expense of  Recovery depends on  Potential for

share facilities during an
emergency
 The host company must be
trusted to scale back its own
processing in order to process
the transactions of the
disaster-stricken company
 Two or more firms must not
be affected by the same
disaster or the plan fails.
maintaining excess the timely availability
capacity year round of the necessary
computer hardware to
restore the data  If a widespread natural
processing function
 Extended time lag
between disaster and
initial recovery
 Hardware, software,
and technicians may
be difficult, if not
impossible, to have
available in the case of
a natural disaster
competition among
users for the ROC
resources
disaster may destroy
the data processing
capabilities of several
ROC members located
in the same
geographic area all the
victims will find
themselves vying for
access to the same
limited facilities.

In terms of cost 4 3 2 1
In terms of 1 2 3 4
riskiness