Disaster recovery plan proposal: Free template

Customize this free disaster-recovery plan proposal with Cobrief

Open this free disaster recovery plan proposal in Cobrief and start editing it instantly using AI. You can adjust the tone, structure, and content based on the client’s infrastructure, compliance obligations, and business continuity goals. You can also use AI to review your draft — spot gaps, tighten language, and improve clarity before sending.

Once you're done, send, download, or save the proposal in one click — no formatting or setup required.

This template is fully customizable and built for real-world use — ideal for pitching disaster-recovery (DR) planning to IT leaders, operations teams, risk managers, or business owners. Whether you’re starting from scratch or updating an outdated plan, this version gives you a structured head start and removes the guesswork.

What is a disaster recovery plan proposal?

A disaster recovery plan proposal outlines your approach to building a documented, testable system for restoring business operations in the event of disruption — including data loss, system outages, cyberattacks, or physical disasters. It typically includes risk assessment, RTO/RPO planning, backup strategy, DR testing, and roles/responsibilities.

This type of proposal is commonly used:

• When companies are scaling and need formal continuity planning
• To meet compliance requirements like ISO 27001, SOC 2, or HIPAA
• After an incident exposes gaps in business resilience
• As part of broader IT modernization or cloud migration

It helps clients recover faster, reduce downtime, and protect critical data and systems under real-world conditions.

A strong proposal helps you:

• Identify and prioritize business-critical systems and processes
• Design backup and failover workflows that align with risk tolerance
• Create a DR runbook with clear team responsibilities
• Establish a regular testing cadence to validate readiness

Why use Cobrief to edit your proposal

Cobrief helps you write clear, structured proposals without wasting time on formatting or redundant copy.

• Edit the proposal directly in your browser: Just focus on scope and clarity — formatting is handled.
• Rewrite sections with AI: Tailor tone instantly for technical, operational, or executive stakeholders.
• Run a one-click AI review: Let AI flag vague deliverables, scope creep, or missing phases.
• Apply AI suggestions instantly: Accept changes line by line or apply across the full proposal.
• Share or export instantly: Send your proposal via Cobrief or download a polished PDF or DOCX version.

You’ll go from outline to client-ready proposal in less time — with a cleaner message.

When to use this proposal

Use this disaster recovery plan proposal when:

• The client has no documented DR plan and needs a first version
• They’re scaling, entering new markets, or facing new compliance requirements
• IT systems are scattered across on-prem and cloud with no clear recovery path
• They’ve experienced data loss, downtime, or ransomware and need to harden their response
• You’re building out business continuity alongside infrastructure or security work

It’s especially useful when leadership knows DR is important — but doesn’t know where to start.

What to include in a disaster recovery plan proposal

Use this template to walk the client through your process — from planning to testing — in structured, plain-smart language.

• Project overview: Frame the problem — untested systems, undocumented procedures, slow recovery — and how your DR plan addresses it.
• Risk and impact assessment: Identify likely threats (cyberattacks, outages, human error, disasters) and which systems/processes are most vulnerable.
• System inventory: List business-critical applications, data stores, and dependencies that must be prioritized during recovery.
• Recovery objectives: Define RTO (Recovery Time Objective) and RPO (Recovery Point Objective) for each key system or workflow.
• Backup and failover strategy: Describe where data is backed up, how frequently, and what failover processes will be in place.
• Roles and responsibilities: Outline the DR team structure — who owns what during a disaster event, including communication plans.
• DR runbook: Deliver a clear, step-by-step playbook for triggering, managing, and exiting a recovery scenario.
• Testing and validation: Recommend tabletop exercises or live tests to validate the plan and identify gaps.
• Documentation and updates: Include a framework for reviewing and updating the DR plan on a recurring basis.
• Timeline and phases: Break the project into phases — discovery, planning, documentation, testing — with duration estimates.
• Pricing: Offer fixed-fee or milestone pricing. Include optional add-ons like technical implementation or recurring testing support.
• Next steps: End with a CTA — like scheduling a kickoff, sharing system inventory, or identifying priority systems.

How to write an effective disaster recovery plan proposal

This proposal should feel practical, risk-aware, and grounded in operations — especially for teams with limited time or bandwidth.

• Anchor to risk, not paranoia: Focus on business continuity and recovery time — not fear-mongering.
• Translate technical terms: Keep RTO, RPO, and backup methods readable for non-engineering stakeholders.
• Flag areas for input: Most DR plans require decisions on priority systems, recovery time, and communication channels — make that clear early.
• Design for reality: Avoid overcomplicated systems if the client has a lean team or limited tooling.
• Build for iteration: Show that the first version can evolve — the goal is to get something usable, then improve it.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

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This article contains general legal information and does not contain legal advice. Cobrief is not a law firm or a substitute for an attorney or law firm. The law is complex and changes often. For legal advice, please ask a lawyer.