A type of test of a contingency plan in which actions are not actually performed. Participants read through the steps and procedures of the plan, in sequence, and evaluate the expected effectiveness of the plan the interaction between elements of the plan.

A disaster causing event that may occur regardless of any human elements.

Predetermined procedures which streamline operations while maintaining an acceptable level of control and auditability during a disaster situation.

The recovery plans and procedures that are used in a systems test to ensure
viability. A test plan is designed to exercise specific action tasks and procedures that would be encountered in a real disaster.

Threats are events that cause a risk to become a loss. Example: A lightning strike could be the trigger that causes a fire that destroys a facility. Threats include natural phenomena and man-made incidents.

The maximum period of time which the business can afford to be without a critical function or process.