Why ITDR Plans Often Fail When It Matters Most

Having an IT disaster recovery (ITDR) plan is a good start. But assuming it will work flawlessly in a real crisis is a dangerous illusion — especially if the plan has never been tested, updated, or aligned with the actual business priorities.

Too many organizations have a document called “ITDR,” but that document fails when it’s needed most — because it’s outdated, incomplete, inaccessible, or not supported by resilient technologies.

Here are the most common reasons ITDR plans fall short in real-life situations… and what you can do to address them before it’s too late.

👉 This article is intended as an awareness piece, focusing on key representative cases. It is not meant to be a comprehensive technical guide.

 

1- The plan is outdated… or incomplete

An ITDR plan is a living document. It must evolve with the systems it supports. In many cases, the plan is never revised or is only partially documented, making it irrelevant as soon as the IT environment changes.

🔍 Common examples:

1. The plan outlines a recovery process for on-premises systems, but the infrastructure has moved to the cloud.
2. A new business-critical application has been deployed, but no recovery procedures were added for it.
3. The documentation is vague or incomplete — just a link to a backup location, with no restoration steps or validation process.

✅ What to do:

• Review the ITDR plan at least annually.
• Update it after any major infrastructure or application change.
• Ensure each critical system or application has its own dedicated recovery procedure, not just a general mention.

 

2- Dependencies are poorly identified

Even if a system is restored, it won’t function unless all its dependencies are accounted for — authentication services, shared drives, databases, etc. Many failures occur because these links weren’t documented or understood.

🔍 Common examples:

1. The system is restored but cannot be accessed because Active Directory hasn’t been restarted yet.
2. A database is up, but the shared file system (NAS) is still offline.
3. The server is online, but DNS isn’t working — making the application unreachable.

✅ What to do:

• Build a dependency map for each priority system.
• Document the sequence of recovery, including technical interdependencies.
• Review dependencies during tests or plan updates with both IT and business units.

 

3- Testing is partial… or nonexistent

Many ITDR plans exist only on paper. If tests do happen, they are often limited to IT teams and technical checks, without involving the business.

🔍 Common examples:

1. A virtual machine is restored, but no one verifies the application works end-to-end.
2. Failover procedures to a secondary site have never been tested.
3. Users are not involved — there is no functional validation from the business.

✅ What to do:

• Plan at least one full-scale test per year, with realistic scenarios.
• Go beyond backup recovery — include functional validation and usability.
• Embed testing into business continuity or crisis simulation exercises.

 

4- Critical systems lack robustness or redundancy

An ITDR plan alone cannot compensate for fragile systems. If your infrastructure lacks redundancy or resilience, recovery will be slow or impossible — even with a perfect plan.

🔍 Common examples:

1. The primary and backup servers are in the same server room.
2. There is only one Internet connection for the whole organization.
3. Critical systems have no UPS or backup generator in case of power failure.

✅ What to do:

• Define minimum robustness levels per system (e.g. N+1, dual power, geographic redundancy).
• Invest in resilient architecture (redundant ISPs, clustered environments, hybrid cloud models).
• Include robustness reviews in your BIA and ITDR planning, not just in IT infrastructure projects.

 

5- The plan is inaccessible

A plan that can’t be reached is useless when it matters. Many organizations store their ITDR plan on the very infrastructure it’s meant to help recover.

🔍 Common examples:

1. The plan is stored in SharePoint… which is hosted on the compromised internal network.
2. IT managers have no access to the plan when working remotely during a network failure.
3. The only copy is saved on a workstation that’s now encrypted by ransomware.

✅ What to do:

• Keep a copy offline or in a separate secure environment (cloud portal, hard copy, USB key).
• Set up alternative access paths for crisis teams.
• Ensure critical contacts and procedures are printed and stored offsite if needed.

 

6- The plan isn’t aligned with business priorities

A recovery plan must reflect what really matters to operations. If IT priorities are disconnected from business needs, the wrong systems will be recovered first — creating chaos instead of continuity.

🔍 Common examples:

1. The internal analytics server is restored before the order management system.
2. The internal chat tool is brought back online while the payroll platform is still down.
3. A non-essential database is restored ahead of the CRM used by the sales team.

✅ What to do:

• Align recovery priorities with the BIA findings and RTOs.
• Bridge the gap between IT and operations through regular coordination.
• Use the BCP as a foundation for all technical recovery sequencing.

 

7- Roles are unclear, and no one knows who’s in charge

Even with a solid technical plan, poor coordination and unclear roles will result in confusion and delays. Disaster recovery depends on people, not just systems.

🔍 Common examples:

1. No one has been designated to activate the ITDR plan during a real event.
2. The IT team waits for business approval, but leadership isn’t aware of the protocol.
3. External vendors wait for instructions… but no one is authorized to give them.

✅ What to do:

• Assign a clear owner for ITDR activation and decision-making.
• Document who does what, when, and train your teams accordingly.
• Include these roles and responsibilities in crisis simulations and tabletop exercises.

 

In summary: A plan only works if it holds up under pressure

An IT disaster recovery plan that exists only in theory won’t protect your business. It must be:

• Documented
• Current
• Accessible
• Business-aligned
• Technically tested
• And backed by a resilient infrastructure

“A disaster recovery plan is not a wish list. It’s a strategy for action when time is short and the pressure is high.”

 

Strategic Support to Prevent Disruption

At Benoit Racette Services-conseils inc., we help organizations protect their critical operations, safeguard their teams, and maintain stakeholder trust — even in the face of a major disruption.

With over 27 years of specialized experience in business continuity, crisis management, emergency preparedness and IT disaster recovery, Benoit Racette supports you with confidentiality and precision, turning complex challenges into actionable, customized solutions.

🔍 Resilience assessments
🛡️ Updated business continuity plans
🚨 Functional crisis management plans
💾 Realistic IT disaster recovery strategies
🧪 Plan testing and team exercises
🎓 Targeted training in continuity, crisis response, and operational preparedness

These are the tools that separate organizations that suffer… from those that respond with confidence.
Want to assess your vulnerabilities, revise your plans, or prepare effectively?

👉 Contact us: [email protected]