How Often Should You Test Your Disaster Recovery Plan, and Why It Matters

Every business knows the importance of having a disaster recovery plan (DRP). But here’s the truth: a plan that’s never tested might not work when you need it most.

Just like you wouldn’t skip fire drills, you shouldn’t skip testing your IT recovery process.

How Often Should You Test It?

For most businesses, once or twice a year is a good baseline. But the right frequency depends on:

• Your industry: Some compliance standards (like HIPAA or SOC 2) require specific testing intervals.

• Your risk level: If you handle sensitive data or rely heavily on uptime, more frequent testing is smart.

• System changes: Any major infrastructure, software, or team change is a reason to re-test your plan.

Why Testing Matters

1️⃣ Validates that your plan works
Testing helps confirm that backups can actually be restored and systems can be recovered in the right order.

2️⃣ Exposes hidden weaknesses
You’ll uncover missing files, unclear roles, or communication gaps before they cause chaos during a real event.

3️⃣ Improves team readiness
Your employees learn what to do, who to contact, and how to respond under pressure, turning confusion into confidence.

4️⃣ Keeps your plan up to date
Technology and personnel change fast. Regular testing ensures your DRP evolves with your organization.

The Bottom Line

A disaster recovery plan isn’t a one-and-done project, it’s a living strategy.

Testing it regularly gives you peace of mind that your data is protected, your systems can recover, and your business can keep serving customers, no matter what happens.

At Soarin Group, we help businesses build, test, and refine disaster recovery plans that actually work when it counts.