A.5.30 "ICT Readiness for Business Continuity" would include:
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Business Impact Analysis (BIA) Documentation: Records of the business impact analysis process conducted to identify critical ICT systems, services, and functions necessary for business continuity.
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Risk Assessment Results: Documentation of the risk assessment process that evaluates potential threats and vulnerabilities to ICT systems and their potential impact on business operations.
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Business Continuity Plans: Copies of business continuity plans specific to ICT systems, outlining strategies for maintaining operational continuity during disruptions.
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Disaster Recovery Plans: Documentation of disaster recovery plans for critical ICT systems, detailing steps to restore and recover systems and data in case of disasters.
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Testing and Exercising Records: Evidence of regular testing and exercises conducted on ICT systems' business continuity and disaster recovery plans to ensure their effectiveness.
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ICT System Recovery Time Objectives (RTOs) and Recovery Point Objectives (RPOs): Documentation of established RTOs and RPOs for different ICT systems, indicating how quickly systems should be restored and how much data loss is acceptable.
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Communication Plans: Documentation of communication plans that outline how communication will be maintained with stakeholders during business disruptions affecting ICT systems.
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Resource Allocation: Records indicating the allocation of necessary resources such as personnel, technology, and facilities to support ICT system recovery.
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Backup and Recovery Procedures: Documentation of backup and recovery procedures for ICT systems, including frequency of backups, storage locations, and restoration processes.
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Alternative Processing Locations: Evidence of established alternative processing locations for critical ICT systems in case the primary location becomes inaccessible.
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Incident Response Integration: Proof of integration between ICT readiness plans and the organization's overall incident response plan.
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Testing Documentation: Records of the testing and validation of backup and recovery processes, including logs of successful and unsuccessful tests.
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Vendor Preparedness: Documentation of how vendors and third-party service providers are included in the organization's ICT readiness plans.
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Employee Training: Evidence of training programs for employees related to business continuity and disaster recovery procedures for ICT systems.
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Monitoring and Reporting: Documentation indicating how the organization monitors the health and performance of ICT systems to proactively identify potential disruptions.
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Escalation Procedures: Documentation outlining escalation procedures for ICT system disruptions, indicating who to contact and when during various stages of recovery.
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Incident Records: Logs of previous ICT-related incidents, detailing the nature of the incident, response actions taken, and lessons learned.
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Coordination with Other Departments: Proof of coordination and collaboration between ICT teams and other business units to align business continuity efforts.
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Updates and Review: Documentation indicating how regularly ICT readiness plans are reviewed, updated, and validated to ensure their relevance and effectiveness.
By examining these pieces of evidence, an auditor can assess whether the organization's ICT systems are adequately prepared to ensure business continuity during disruptions. This includes evaluating the organization's ability to recover systems and data, maintain communication, and minimize downtime.
