WELLS FARGO & COMPANY INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DISASTER RECOVERY PLAN
Wells Fargo & Company is a leading financial services provider that deals in banking, investment, mortgage, and commercial finance products for various clients across the globe. Cyber attacks, natural calamities, and technological failure are more likely to disrupt the digital transaction-based banking business. Consequently, this company has created a robust Disaster Recovery Plan to handle any interruptions of its systems. This strategy helps ensure that critical activities are recommenced promptly and that confidential customer and corporate records are protected while maintaining stakeholder confidence. Our operational resilience is based on a Disaster Recovery Plan (DRP) that contains contingencies for risk mitigation, ensuring company stability in adverse environments.
A copy of this plan is stored in the following areas:
- Department of Information Technology Office
- Office and home of the Chief Information Officer
Section 2: Scope
Wells Fargo’s vast operations depend on all major IT systems and infrastructure detailed in this Disaster Recovery Plan. These include technologies that process transactions, store client data, provide mobile or online banking services, enable internal communication between employees, or safeguard against cyber-attacks. The designed scope includes threats from cybercrimes, data breaches by insiders, natural calamities such as hurricanes or earthquakes, and unanticipated system failures. The main aim of the plan is to recover these systems rapidly after they fail to minimize disruption and allow customers continued access (Mohamed, 2014). Therefore, the DRP sets forth an organization-wide recovery strategy, enabling Wells Fargo to survive significant setbacks.
Section 3: Assumptions
This Disaster Recovery Plan has been based on some assumptions that form the basis for the preparedness strategies and response tactics if anything happens. First, it is assumed that Wells Fargo maintains a complete inventory of all IT assets, including their interdependencies; thus, the recovery efforts focus on specific critical systems. According to this plan, regular backups should be made using encrypted technology to prevent on-site or off-site data loss (Wallace & Webber, 2018). This third assumption is that a disaster-ready culture exists in the organization where all employees are trained periodically on their disaster recovery roles and responsibilities. Lastly, the plan assumes that IT suppliers/service providers will provide additional resources and expertise to support recovery efforts. These assumptions ensure the functionality of DRP and the creation of an elastic system of response to emergencies.
Section 4: Definitions
For clarity and understanding among Disaster Recovery Plan stakeholders, its various terms are defined as follows:
- Critical Data: Essential data needed for Wells Fargo to operate normally daily; it includes customer personal and financial records, transaction histories, and compliance documents, which are susceptible to business matters essential for operations integrity and control compliance.
- Recovery Time Objective (RTO): The timeframe for restoring corporate processes following a disaster or disruption to minimize the impact on operations, finances, and customer service. Disaster recovery planning and execution depend on the RTO to match recovery efforts with operational priorities.
- Recovery Point Objective (RPO): Measures maximum tolerable data loss in time from a disaster. The RPO determines the backup frequency and data protection needed to maintain business continuity and minimize data loss during a disruption.
Section 5: Teams
5.0.1 Incident Commander
| Chief Information Officer | |
| Home Phone: | |
| Cell Phone: |
5.0.2 Incident Command Team
| Chief Information Officer | |
| Manager, User Support | |
| Manager, Infrastructure Services | |
| Manager, Information Systems | |
| Manager, Classroom and Media Services |
5.1 Datacenter Recovery Team
All Contact Information is located in Appendix A
| Team Lead: | Manager, Infrastructure Services |
| Team Members: | System Administrators (2) |
| Desktop Systems Administrator | |
| Network Communications Technicians (2) |
5.2 Desktop, Lab, and Classroom Recovery Team
All Contact Information is located in Appendix A
Commander.
| Team Lead: | Manager, User Services |
| Team Members: | Manager, Classroom and Media Services |
| Desktop Systems Administrator | |
| Computing Coordinators (7) | |
| Lab and Student Computing Coordinator | |
| Equipment Systems Specialist |
5.3 Enterprise Systems Recovery Team
All Contact Information is located in Appendix A
| Team Lead: | Manager, Information Systems |
| Team Members: | Manager, Infrastructure Services |
| Programmer/Analysts (4) | |
| Web Programmer/Analyst | |
| System Administrator | |
| Computing Coordinators supporting affected areas (business services, payroll, enrollment
services, etc.) |
|
| Key Business Unit Personnel as needed by type of incident (payroll clerk, accountant,
registrar, etc.) |
5.4 Infrastructure and Web Recovery Team
All Contact Information is located in Appendix A
Commander.
| Team Lead: | Manager, Infrastructure Services |
| Team Members: | System Administrators (2) |
| Desktop Systems Administrator | |
| Web Programmer/Analyst |
5.5 Telecommunications, Network, and Internet Services Recovery Team
All Contact Information is located in Appendix A
Commander.
| Team Lead: | Manager, Infrastructure Services |
| Team Members: | Communications Technicians (2) |
| System Administrator |
Section 6: Recovery Preparations
Wells Fargo & Company’s Disaster Recovery Plan requires IT infrastructure-wide preparations. Our rigorous preparations ensure the bank can quickly recover from any calamity, minimizing operational effects and retaining customer and stakeholder trust.
6.1 Data Recovery Information:
Data Recovery Information underpins this DRP, protecting and restoring crucial data quickly. All operating areas of Wells Fargo have encrypted backups of critical data. Regular backups are scheduled based on data criticality and departmental needs. Backups are kept on-site for easy access and off-site at geographically distributed locations to enable redundancy and limit risks from physical disasters affecting primary storage locations. Backup restoration processes are tested regularly to ensure data recovery under various scenarios and meet RTO and RPO targets.
6.2 Central Datacenter and Server Recovery Information:
The Central Datacenter and Server Recovery Information section describes essential data center and server resilience techniques. Data centers are crucial to operational continuity. Thus, Wells Fargo has created backup data centers to take over operations in a crisis. The central data center’s capabilities are replicated at these sites to avoid service disruptions. For non-critical systems, cloud-based solutions provide flexibility and scalability in recovery operations. Drills and tests are conducted regularly to prepare physical and cloud infrastructure for disaster recovery.
6.3 Network and Telecommunication Recovery Information:
Network and Telecommunication Recovery Information maintains communication after a disaster. To maintain contact with customers, workers, and partners, Wells Fargo prioritizes network infrastructure and telecommunications restoration. This includes established service provider agreements for priority restoration and alternative communication ways if primary channels are damaged. The bank uses numerous data channels and backup communication technologies to preserve operational connectivity during disasters.
6.4 Application Recovery Information:
Application Recovery Information highlights the most crucial banking applications’ prioritization for restoration first. Business-critical applications like transaction processing, internet banking, and customer information systems come first on the list of priorities. In addition, cloud-hosted apps can accelerate recovery through preconfigured virtual machine use cases. These apps should be regularly updated/patched for security reasons to make immediate activation available during disasters.
6.5 Desktop Equipment Recovery Information:
Desktop Equipment Recovery Information assists in preparing end-user devices such as computers, thus restoring them in case of any damage caused by either fire or water, among others, that may affect their functioning within the organization. They include essential hardware such as workstations, laptops, mobile equipment, and peripherals, which banking activities should always maintain (Fallara, 2014). There are replacement strategies to ensure rapid hardware acquisition and deployment in a disaster, allowing employees to get back to work quickly. To facilitate employee flexibility and continuity, remote work facilities enable them to access essential systems and data from different locations.
Section 7: Disaster Recovery Processes and Procedures
7.1 Emergency Response:
Disaster response begins with an emergency response. The emergency response team, which protects bank personnel and assets, must be activated first. Assess the situation, apply safety rules, and immediately communicate with essential workers and emergency services. Its purpose is to stabilize the situation, avoid more damage, and prepare for recovery. To maintain transparency and trust, communication plans tell workers, customers, and stakeholders about the occurrence and the bank’s response.
7.2 Incident Command Team:
The Incident Commander, usually the CIO, leads the Incident Command Team after stabilization. This team evaluates the disaster’s impact on IT and business operations. The criticality of impacted systems and business impact determine recovery priorities. Strategic choices, resource allocation, and disaster recovery team deployment fall to the Incident Command Team. This centralized command structure coordinates crisis response across the bank for speedy and effective recovery.
7.3 Disaster Recovery Teams:
Disaster Recovery Teams for each vital area begin recovery using the Incident Command Team’s strategy. Each team restores data, applications, networks, and equipment according to predetermined processes. Our Datacenter Recovery Team restores server functioning and data accessibility. Meanwhile, the Desktop, Lab, and Classroom Recovery Team keeps all user endpoints running. The Enterprise Systems Recovery Team restores core corporate applications, while the Infrastructure and Web Recovery Team and Telecommunications, Network, and Internet Services Recovery Team restore connection and online services. These teams use regular disaster recovery drills and simulations to prepare and respond efficiently.
7.4 General System/Application Recovery Procedures/Outline:
The General System/Application Recovery Procedures/Outline details IT system and application restoration. Step-by-step guidelines for each recovery team include analyzing system damage, prioritizing recovery by criticality, restoring backup data, testing systems for functionality, and returning to normal operations. The recovery processes prioritize speedy restoration of critical systems to reduce downtime and cost. This phase is meticulous, with ongoing monitoring and adjustment to solve recovery concerns. The ultimate goal is to restore all systems to full functionality with integrity and security.
8.0 Network & Telecommunication Recovery Guidelines:
Wells Fargo understands the significance of communication during and after a tragedy. The Network & Telecommunication Recovery Guidelines provide a comprehensive framework for quickly and efficiently restoring network infrastructure and services. These rules cover a variety of methods for maintaining communication with consumers, staff, and partners.
Recovering Networks
Network infrastructure restoration is prioritized after a disaster to enable organization-wide communication and data transmission. Wells Fargo uses redundant network architectures with various data paths and failover techniques for resilience and availability. The recovery process assesses network damage, finds alternative data transmission paths, and reconnects systems and locations. Network recovery teams debug, set up routing protocols, and test network functionality. Regular testing and simulations verify network recovery techniques and identify improvements.
Telecommunications Recovery
Telecommunications help sustain external communication with customers, vendors, and regulators. Wells Fargo’s telecommunication recovery priorities are telephone lines, mobile networks, and internet connectivity. This requires working with telecommunications providers to prioritize restoration and speed up repairs. If primary channels fail, satellite phones and alternative internet connections are activated. Telecommunication recovery teams manage vendor relationships, provide temporary solutions, and ensure a smooth return to normal operations.
Internet Service Recovery
The Internet is essential for online banking, customer assistance, and external communication. Wells Fargo’s Internet Services Recovery approach restores public websites, online banking platforms, and digital communication channels. Web servers, domain infrastructure, and content delivery networks are assessed for disaster damage. Web recovery specialists work hard to fix vulnerabilities, restore website functionality, and secure against cyberattacks. Scalable and robust cloud-based web hosting services ensure online availability during and after a crisis.
References
Fallara, P. (2014). Disaster recovery planning. IEEE Potentials, 23(5), 42–44.
Mohamed, H. A. R. (2014). A proposed model for IT disaster recovery plan. International Journal of Modern Education and Computer Science, 6(4), 57–67.
Wallace, M., & Webber, L. (2018). The disaster recovery handbook: A step-by-step plan to ensure business continuity and protect vital operations, facilities, and assets. AMACOM.
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Question 
ASSIGNMENT 1
*Portfolio Assignment Preview – Due Week 7*
PLEASE USE ‘Disaster Recovery Plan Review’ TEMPLATE FOR THIS ASSIGNMENT
Portfolio Assignment:
Review the DR template and pick an industry such as (airlines, e-commerce, banking, etc.). Within that industry, pick a specific organization for the development of the Disaster Recovery Plan such as Healthcare – Physical Therapy Clinics – ATI.
Pick an industry/company to focus on for this assignment. Based upon the given information you can find on the company and any past issues/breaches the company has gone through, create a Disaster Recovery plan using the template provided.
WELLS FARGO & COMPANY INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DISASTER RECOVERY PLAN
Project selection is submitted for approval.
***Standard for all Research Assignments
Your paper should meet the following requirements:
Be approximately four to six pages in length, not including the required cover page and reference page.
Follow APA7 guidelines. Your paper should include an introduction, a body with fully developed content, and a conclusion.
Support your answers with the readings from the course and at least two scholarly journal articles to support your positions, claims, and observations, in addition to your textbook. The UC Library is a great place to find resources.
Be clearly and well-written, concise, and logical, using excellent grammar and style techniques. You are being graded in part on the quality of your writing.