Disaster Recovery Introduction

This chapter presents a general overview of CMS practices, services, and guidance for Disaster Recovery (DR), which should be implemented in accordance with appropriate security and CMS Continuity of Operations (COOP) requirements. CMS Emergency Preparedness and Response Operations (EPRO) manages all CMS COOP Planning including the assignment of CMS Mission Essential Functions (MEF), which influence DR parameters. This includes formulating guidance and establishing common objectives for CMS and its components to develop a viable, enterprise-wide, state of resilience for DR and COOP capability.

The primary focus of this chapter is DR as it relates to IT operations covering the following:

  • Hardware – Networks, servers, desktop and laptop computers, wireless devices and peripherals, etc.

  • Cloud configurations – Compute, data, virtual networks, load balancers, etc.

  • Connectivity to service provider – Fiber, cable, wireless, etc.

  • Software applications – Electronic data interchange, electronic mail, enterprise resource management, office productivity, etc.

  • Data and restoration – Backup and recovery

  • Environment – Secure computer room with climate control, conditioned, and backup power supply, etc.

Reference Documents

This chapter is not all inclusive. It complements and incorporates existing policies, standards, and procedures for CMS, HHS, DHS, and OMB, thereby offering an architectural view of the standards. Where there are conflicts, the following standards, and any successor documents, will take precedence:

COOP and DR:

Other related guidance