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BCD-19: Isolated Recovery Environment

BCD 5 — Medium Recover

Mechanisms exist to utilize an isolated, non-production environment to perform data backup and recovery operations through offline, cloud or off-site capabilities.

Renumbered: Formerly BCD-14 in SCF 2025.4.

Control Question: Does the organization utilize an isolated, non-production environment to perform data backup and recovery operations through offline, cloud or off-site capabilities?

General (6)
Framework Mapping Values
CIS CSC 8.1 11.4
CIS CSC 8.1 IG1 11.4
CIS CSC 8.1 IG2 11.4
CIS CSC 8.1 IG3 11.4
CR CMM 2026 CR10.2.4
Shared Assessments SIG 2025 K.1
US (1)
Framework Mapping Values
USA Federal DoW BaTB IT 2026 9
APAC (1)
Framework Mapping Values
APAC Malaysia RMiT 2025 10.45
Americas (1)
Framework Mapping Values
Americas Argentina Reg 132 2018 D.1.2-DS-4

Capability Maturity Model

Level 0 — Not Performed

Practices are non-existent, based on the inability to demonstrate an implemented and operational capability. A reasonable person would conclude the control is not being performed.

Level 1 — Performed Informally

SCR-CMM Level 1 criteria definitions are not available for this control: ▪ A reasonable person would conclude this control requires a structured process. ▪ At this level of maturity, the "ad hoc" nature of performing a capability informally would indicate the intent of the control is not met due to a lack of consistency and formality.

Level 2 — Planned & Tracked

Business Continuity & Disaster Recovery (BCD) capabilities are requirements-driven, but are not standardized across the entity (e.g., local/regional level consistency). Capability criteria associated with this control reasonably expect the following criteria to exist: ▪ Policies and standards associated with BCD domain capabilities are formally documented and centrally-managed by the entity. ▪ Standardized Operating Procedures (SOP) associated with BCD domain capabilities are documented and maintained by process owners. ▪ IT and/or cybersecurity personnel work with business stakeholders and process owners to appropriately scope and reasonably implement cybersecurity and data protection controls associated with BCD domain capabilities to address applicable statutory, regulatory and/or contractual requirements for Technology Assets, Applications, Services and/or Data (TAASD). ▪ Business Continuity / Disaster Recovery (BC/DR)-related controls are primarily administrative and preventative in nature (e.g., policies, standards and procedures & guidelines). ▪ BC/DR may be a defined function (e.g., team or department) or assigned as an additional duty to existing IT and/or cybersecurity personnel.

Level 3 — Well Defined

Business Continuity & Disaster Recovery (BCD) capabilities are standardized across the entity for applicability to People, Processes, Technologies, Data and/or Facilities (PPTDF) to ensure consistency for Technology Assets, Applications, Services and/or Data (TAASD). Capability criteria associated with this control reasonably expect the following criteria to exist: ▪ Policies and standards associated with BCD domain capabilities are formally documented and centrally-managed by the entity's Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) team, or similar function. ▪ Standardized Operating Procedures (SOP) associated with BCD domain capabilities are well-documented and kept current by process owners. ▪ A Business Continuity & Disaster Recovery (BC/DR) team, or similar function, is appropriately staffed and supported to implement and maintain BCD domain capabilities. ▪ Technology is leveraged to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of BC/DR operations (e.g., BC/DR planning software, Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS), Orchestration and Automation Tools). ▪ The entity's Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) team, or similar function, works with business stakeholders and process owners to appropriately scope and reasonably implement cybersecurity and data protection controls associated with BCD domain capabilities to address Minimum Compliance Requirements (MCR) (e.g., applicable statutory, regulatory and/or contractual requirements) and Discretionary Security Requirements (DSR) (e.g., entity-required controls). ▪ An implemented and operational capability exists to utilize an isolated, non-production environment to perform data backup and recovery operations through offline, cloud or off-site capabilities.

Level 4 — Quantitatively Controlled

Utilize SCR-CMM Level 3 criteria definitions: ▪ There are no defined Level 4 criteria, since it is reasonable to assume a quantitatively-controlled process is not necessary to operationalize this control. ▪ While it may be possible to develop “metrics-driven” capabilities for this control, the criteria would be organization-specific to define.

Level 5 — Continuously Improving

Utilize SCR-CMM Level 3 or Level 4 (if available) criteria definitions: ▪ There are no defined Level 5 criteria, since it is reasonable to assume a continuously-improving process is not necessary to operationalize this control. ▪ Level 5 capabilities should be considered “world-class” where the control builds on Level 4 capabilities, but are continuously improving through Artificial Intelligence (AI) and/or Machine Learning (ML) technologies. ▪ While it may be possible to develop responsive capabilities for this control through the use of AI and/or ML technologies, the criteria would be organization-specific to define.

Assessment Objectives

  1. BCD-19_A01 the organization utilizes an isolated, non-production environment to perform data backups via offline, cloud or off-site capabilities.
  2. BCD-19_A02 the organization utilizes an isolated, non-production environment to perform recovery operations through offline, cloud or off-site capabilities.

Evidence Requirements

E-BCD-19 Isolated Recovery Environment & Reserve Hardware

Documented evidence of an isolated recovery environment, reserve hardware, redundant secondary systems and/or failover capability.

Business Continuity

Technology Recommendations

Micro/Small

  • Basic business continuity plan
  • Regular data backup

Small

  • Business continuity plan
  • Tested backup and restore procedures

Medium

  • Dedicated recovery environment

Large

  • Dedicated recovery environment

Enterprise

  • Dedicated recovery environment

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