2.3 The Minimalist Approach

The “Minimal Step, Targeted Approach” Alternative

An alternative, minimalist, approach is to first map the business processes and prioritise these at the outset. Resources required by vital and critical processes are documented and these also are then prioritised. Alternative, less expensive or less complex, 'recovery' resources are considered in order to reduce the overall cost of recovering vital and non-vital business processes, in accordance with a pre-determined schedule. Contingency plans are then written and implemented.

The Main Objective

The main objective is to ensure that all current and historical data and intrinsically valuable items are replicated, or capable of replication within an acceptable time frame, at two locations that are remote from each other, (see Section Section 4.5 - Choosing a recovery strategy). Items that cannot be replicated are indexed electronically and then physically protected. Minimal BC plans are prepared and implemented, to enable the most vital and critical business processes to be resumed within an acceptable time period, after the occurrence of a 'disaster'. Strategies for developing recovery procedures for less critical processes, after the occurrence of a disaster, are outlined in the plan.

MSTA methodology includes procedures for:

- Justification of budget
- Securing main board sponsorship and support
- Identification of threats to business operations
- Operational risk minimisation
- Business impact analysis
- Creating a recovery philosophy
- Setting a recovery policy
- Developing a recovery strategy
- Assessment of existing recovery provision
- Building a 'targeting' strategy
- Prioritising business functions
- Identifying key resources
- Applying minimalist theory to the development of recovery plans
- Determining appropriate phasing
- Planning infrastructure and resource needs
- Developing draft plans
- Incorporating escalation preferences
- Attaining consensus
- Implementation of the recovery environment
- Incorporation of salvage procedures
- 'Cold site' selection and equipping
- Back-to-base project implementation
- Testing of the concepts and provisions
- Staff training
- Pre-implementation test cycle and the incorporation of various maintenance and performance monitoring schedules into the plan.