What is the purpose of a disaster recovery plan?

The purpose of a disaster recovery plan is fundamentally centered on creating a structured approach to facilitating the recovery and protection of IT infrastructure in the aftermath of a disruptive event, such as a natural disaster, cyberattack, or hardware failure. This plan clearly delineates procedures for restoring critical systems and data to ensure that organizations can resume operations effectively with minimal downtime and data loss.

A well-crafted disaster recovery plan includes detailed steps on backing up data, restoring IT operations, emergency communication protocols, and roles and responsibilities for team members. By doing so, organizations are better equipped to navigate the complexities of unexpected disruptions and maintain continuity of services, which is essential for their overall stability and reliability.

In contrast, other options do not align with the core objectives of a disaster recovery plan. Scheduling regular maintenance of systems focuses on ongoing support rather than responding to emergencies. A policy document for employee conduct pertains more to organizational behavior than crisis response, while a training guide for new employees serves educational purposes rather than operational recovery. Therefore, the correct choice reflects the plan's essential role in ensuring business resilience through defined recovery strategies.