Enhancing SSADM with disaster recovery plan activities

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose the integration of disaster recovery plan (DRP) objects development activities with the activities of the structured system analysis and design method (SSADM) methodology for developing an information system.

Design/methodology/approach

A step‐by‐step correlation of the SSADM methodology with DRP development activities is performed. By following this approach, a smaller system for emergency operations (DRP) can be designed in parallel with that for normal operations. Furthermore, the implementation of a normal operations system based on the requirements analysis and of an emergency operations system based on the critical business functions may follow the same line of reasoning.

Findings

The proposed enhancement brings benefits to both the organization and the system developer in terms of expenditure, self‐knowledge, personnel experience, reaction time, time and capability management and increase of competitiveness.

Practical implications

The practical acceptance of the proposed approach can drastically reduce the time elapsing between the completion of the normal operations system and the design of the emergency operations system. Moreover, the needs of the emergency operations system can be forecasted during the design of the normal operations system.

Originality/value

The paper extends the SSADM methodology by incorporating DRP development.

Citation

Aggelinos, G. and Katsikas, S.K. (2011), "Enhancing SSADM with disaster recovery plan activities", Information Management & Computer Security, Vol. 19 No. 4, pp. 248-261. https://doi.org/10.1108/09685221111173067