Which of the following best distinguishes disaster recovery from a business continuity plan?

• A. Disaster recovery focuses on restoring IT infrastructure after a disruption; business continuity plans ensure operations continue during and after disruption.
• B. Disaster recovery plans protect data privacy; business continuity plans focus on security policies.
• C. Disaster recovery is optional; business continuity plans are mandatory.
• D. Disaster recovery handles user training; business continuity handles vendor contracts.

Answer: (A)

Distinguishing disaster recovery from a business continuity plan: Disaster recovery is about getting IT systems, data, and technology infrastructure back up after a disruption. It focuses on restoring servers, networks, backups, and essential applications within defined recovery objectives so the digital backbone can be reestablished. A business continuity plan takes a broader view to keep the business operating during the disruption and to resume full operations afterward. It covers not just technology, but people, facilities, processes, communication, and suppliers, ensuring critical functions can continue with minimal interruption even when IT is down. In practice, disaster recovery is a component of a business continuity program, focused on technology restoration, while business continuity aims to preserve and recover the business’s ability to deliver products and services. Therefore, the best answer is that disaster recovery focuses on restoring IT infrastructure after a disruption; business continuity plans ensure operations continue during and after disruption.