COOP vs DR: What is the relationship between continuity of operations and disaster recovery in Annex F?

• A. COOP is for manufacturing; DR is for healthcare.
• B. COOP is the same as DR.
• C. COOP focuses only on data backups; DR focuses only on power supply.
• D. COOP focuses on maintaining essential functions during disruptions; DR is the strategy to restore IT systems and data.

Answer: (D)

The key idea here is how these two plans relate to keeping a business functioning during disruptions. COOP (continuity of operations) is about maintaining the organization’s essential functions when things go wrong. It defines what must continue, who will carry it out, and how operations can proceed at an alternate site or with delegated authority, all within a defined time frame. Disaster recovery, on the other hand, is the plan for restoring IT systems and data after a disruption, detailing the steps, resources, and timelines needed to bring technology back online so those essential functions can be supported again. In other words, COOP sets the requirements for sustaining operations; DR provides the technical path to recover the IT capabilities that support those operations. DR is part of the broader COOP effort, but it specifically targets IT recovery rather than the entire range of business functions.