Disaster recovery solutions are vital for organizations that want to maximize uptime and protect themselves from threats, including cyber-criminals and natural disasters. Disaster recovery software becomes more crucial as the amount of data an enterprise creates and stores continues to grow at an ever-increasing rate. This makes the role of a disaster recovery manager essential in today’s technological landscape.
There are plenty of free resources available online (such as Solutions Review’s Disaster Recovery as a Service Buyer’s Guide, Data Protection Buyer’s Guide, Backup and Disaster Recovery Buyer’s Guide, Data Protection Vendor Comparison Map, and best practices section), but sometimes it’s best to do things the old-fashioned way. There are few resources that can match the in-depth, comprehensive detail of a book targeted specifically at disaster recovery managers.
The editors at Solutions Review have done much of the work for you, curating this list of the most essential books for disaster recovery managers available on Amazon. These books have been selected based on the total number and quality of user reviews, as well as their ability to add business value.
Note: Titles are listed in no particular order.
The Best Books for Disaster Recovery Managers
Book Title: Certified Disaster Response and Recovery Manager: Course Workbook and Lab Exercises
OUR TAKE: This book from Michael I. Kaplan and Robert M. Peterson is one of four works used for the Certified Disaster Response and Recovery Manager course. Disaster recovery managers should note that this title is meant to act as a supplemental study aid.
Description: “Facing daily risks to long-term success from a wide range of threats—cyber-attacks, human error, technical failures, and natural disasters—businesses must create practical plans to sustain their vital operations, security posture, industry reputation, and brand. Students will cover critical topics such as BCP Design and Development Strategies, Selection of Risk Management Frameworks, Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis Strategies, Creating Asset Inventories and Resource Profiles, Recovery Site Management and Workflows, Reviewing Cloud Computing Service Agreements, Cloud Data Security Strategies, and the Impact of Legal Requirements on Cloud Storage Solutions.”
Book Title: Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery for InfoSec Managers
OUR TAKE: Authors John Rittinghouse and James F. Ransome have a combined 55 years of experience in IT and security operations. Rittinghouse is a management consultant for large enterprises as well as a member of the Federal Communication Commission’s Homeland Security Network Reliability and Interoperability Council Focus Group on Cybersecurity. Ransome has a Ph.D. in information systems, specializing in information security.
Description: “Every year, nearly one in five businesses suffers a major disruption to its data or voice networks or communications systems. Since 9/11 it has become increasingly important for companies to implement a plan for disaster recovery. This comprehensive book addresses the operational and day-to-day security management requirements of business stability and disaster recovery planning specifically tailored for the needs and requirements of an Information Security Officer.”
Book Title: Disaster and Recovery Planning: A Guide for Facility Managers
OUR TAKE: This sixth edition publication from Joseph F. Gustin is meant to serve as the foundation of an organization’s disaster planning and recovery efforts. Gustin’s other works focus on the multi-faceted role of the facility manager and business owner in maintaining business continuity.
Description: “This new edition of a bestseller book addresses the complexities of disaster preparedness and business continuity. Updated with the latest statistics, the new edition includes an overview of natural disasters, coverage of computer and data protection expanded to include cyber-attacks on the private sector, and information on managing data privacy. It also includes the latest information on dirty bombs, chemical and biological agents and weapons, disaster planning and recovery issues, regulatory influences and emergency preparedness. This reference highlights the importance of prevention as well as controlling the effects of a disaster on a company’s operations.”
Book Title: Emergency Management Exercises: From Response to Recovery: Everything You Need to Know to Design a Great Exercise
OUR TAKE: Author Regina Phelps is a widely renowned expert in the fields of crisis management, exercise design, and continuity and pandemic planning. Additionally, Phelps is the founder of Emergency Management & Safety Solutions Inc.
Description: “Exercises are a mainstay in the field of emergency management and business continuity planning. Although many companies conduct exercises, and the organizers may be emergency response subject matter experts, they do not excel in the discipline of designing and conducting the actual exercise – which means they simply don’t get the best results out of their effort… Whether you are developing a simple tabletop exercise or working on a full-scale extravaganza that resembles a Hollywood movie, this book will provide you with gems of wisdom that will make your next exercise sizzle. An internationally recognized expert in exercise design, Regina Phelps shares many of her secrets to ensure your exercise success.”
Book Title: The Business Continuity Operating System: What the Best Do Differently to Achieve Success
OUR TAKE: With this title, readers benefit from author Brian Zawada’s 25 years of global business continuity experience. This book guides readers through a narrative in which the protagonist builds a business continuity program for a fictitious company.
Description: “There are seven core elements that differentiate a high-performing business continuity program from an under-performing one. Whether you are new to business continuity or lead an existing program, this book will help you engage key stakeholders, identify and resolve issues that are draining energy from your program, and achieve the right level of operational resilience for your organization to protect your people, brand, and bottom-line. If you are ready to strengthen your organization’s business continuity capabilities and create confidence that your work contributes to achieving the right level of operational resilience, start reading. This book is for you!”
Book Title: The Manager’s Guide to Business Continuity Exercises: Testing Your Plan
OUR TAKE: In this book, business continuity expert, Jim Burtles, outlines the options for conducting various tests and exercises to help readers keep their plans effective and up to date. Burtles helps readers identify the eight main elements in developing and delivering a successful exercise, as well as ensuring they understand the “rules of engagement.”
![The Manager’s Guide to Business Continuity Exercises: Testing Your Plan (A Rothstein Publishing Collection eBook) by [Jim Burtles, Kristen Noakes-Fry]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51k3Y-48oWL.jpg)
Description: “You designed your Business Continuity Plan to keep your business in business regardless of the forces of man and nature. But how do you know that the plan really works? Few companies can afford the recommended full-scale exercises several times a year. In The Manager’s Guide to Business Continuity Exercises, Jim Burtles, an internationally known expert, details the options for conducting a range of tests and exercises to keep your plan effective and up to date.”
Book Title: Manager’s Guide to ISO 22301
OUR TAKE: Author Tony Drewitt has specialized in operational risk management and business continuity and is currently working to create management systems in line with ISO 22301 and its predecessor, BS25999. Drewitt has also written additional books on business continuity and maintaining compliance.
Description: “This practical guide to the ISO22301 business continuity management system standard shows you how to develop and implement a business continuity management (BCM) and disaster recovery plan; ensuring you get back on your feet with the minimum of fuss, should the unthinkable happen. Providing a comprehensive introduction to the topic, this book includes practical, detailed guidance on developing and implementing a BCM system certifiable to the ISO22301 standard, using detailed and illustrative examples. A BCM policy and other useful document templates are provided in the appendices… Disaster can strike without warning, so the time to start developing an ISO22301 compliant system is now.”
Book Title: Manager’s Guide to Crisis Management
OUR TAKE: As part of the Briefcase Books series, Jonathan Bernstein guides readers through key crisis management terms, tricks of the trade, mistake proofing, cautions, examples, and tools to use when developing a disaster recovery plan.
Description: “Manager’s Guide to Crisis Management provides the basic skills and knowledge you need to deal with the crises that inevitably occur in any business or organization. Covering every aspect of the topic—from defining crisis management and policies to training for and responding to crises—it helps you fully grasp any situation that threatens business, careers, and even lives. Lead through any crisis smoothly and with minimal ramifications by mastering the most effective tactics.”
Book Title: Becoming Resilient — The Definitive Guide to ISO 22301 Implementation: The Plain English, Step-by-Step Handbook for Business Continuity Practitioners
OUR TAKE: This title from Dejan Kosutic leads readers from an introduction of ISO 22301 to the implementation of business continuity standards and best practices. Throughout the book, Kosutic covers common misunderstandings, how to present the benefits of business continuity to upper management, and how to develop a disaster recovery plan.
![Becoming Resilient – The Definitive Guide to ISO 22301 Implementation: The Plain English, Step-by-Step Handbook for Business Continuity Practitioners by [Dejan Kosutic]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51zuHfzU-kL.jpg)
Description: “If you are an IT administrator, information security professional, quality manager, or a project manager with a task to implement ISO 22301 in your company, this book is perfect for you. However, this book will be also useful for consultants and experienced business continuity practitioners. It can be used as a checklist for getting a comprehensive and structured view of how business continuity should be implemented.”
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Tess Hanna
Tess Hanna is an editor and writer at Solutions Review covering Backup and Disaster Recovery, Data Storage, Cloud Computing, and Network Monitoring. Recognized by Onalytica in the 2021 "Who's Who in Data Management," and "Who's Who in Automation" reports. You can contact her at thanna@solutionsreview.com
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