BCD-27: Data Replication
Mechanisms exist to replicate data to alternate storage or processing locations at a frequency capable of satisfying Recovery Point Objectives (RPOs).
Control Question: Does the organization replicate data to alternate storage or processing locations at a frequency capable of satisfying Recovery Point Objectives (RPOs)?
APAC (1)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| APAC Malaysia RMiT 2025 | A10-B5(c)(ii) |
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. ▪ Appropriate TAASD exist to conduct full, incremental and/or differential backups (e.g., tape/disk, hybrid cloud or direct-to-cloud). ▪ IT personnel configure business-critical Technology Assets, Applications and/or Services to transfer backup data to the alternate site(s) at a rate that is capable of meeting RTOs and RPOs. ▪ The backup methodology is sufficient to support RTOs and RPOs for critical business functions. ▪ IT personnel store backups in a secondary location, separate from the primary storage site (e.g., cloud-based storage). ▪ IT personnel perform a random sampling of backups is tested at least semi-annually to verify integrity and recoverability of backed up data. ▪ Backups for sensitive/regulated data are cryptographically protected (encrypted and integrity checked) to prevent the unauthorized disclosure and modification of backup information. ▪ IT personnel backup copies of business-critical software, licenses/keys and other security-related information to the alternate site.
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).
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
- BCD-27_A01 Recovery Point Objectives (RPOs) are defined for data that requires replication.
- BCD-27_A02 data is replicated to alternate storage or processing locations.
- BCD-27_A03 the replication frequency or replication lag for each replicated data set is configured so that it does not exceed the Recovery Point Objective (RPO) of that data.
- BCD-27_A04 replication status is monitored and replication failures or lag exceeding the Recovery Point Objective (RPO) generate alerts that are investigated and resolved.
- BCD-27_A05 the ability of replicated data to satisfy Recovery Point Objectives (RPOs) is validated at a defined frequency and the results are documented.
Evidence Requirements
- E-BCD-10 Data Backups
-
Documented evidence of a Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP)-related data backup scheme that demonstrates the methods of data backup (including protection measures) for all data types to ensure business continuity requirements.
Business Continuity
Technology Recommendations
Micro/Small
- Cloud file synchronization for critical data (e.g., OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox Business)
- Documented RPO for critical systems
Small
- Cloud storage replication (e.g., AWS S3 Cross-Region Replication, Azure geo-redundant storage)
- Database replication for critical applications
Medium
- Storage or hypervisor replication (e.g., VMware vSphere Replication, Veeam Replication, Azure Site Recovery)
- Replication monitoring against RPO
Large
- Enterprise replication platform (e.g., Zerto, Azure Site Recovery, NetApp SnapMirror)
- Cross-region database replication
- Replication lag monitoring and alerting
Enterprise
- Enterprise continuous replication (e.g., Zerto, Dell RecoverPoint, NetApp SnapMirror)
- Multi-region active/active or active/passive architecture
- Automated RPO compliance reporting