The answer is the Disaster Recovery Plan (DRP). This is correct because the DRP specifically contains the technical procedures for activating a backup site after a primary data center failure, including steps like DNS changes, storage array failover using synchronous replication with a quorum witness, and network reconfiguration. On the ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity CC exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish the DRP from the Business Continuity Plan (BCP), which focuses on maintaining overall business operations rather than the technical recovery of IT infrastructure. A common trap is confusing the two, but remember: the BCP keeps the business running (e.g., relocating staff), while the DRP brings the systems back online. For a memory tip, think “DRP = Data Recovery Procedures,” and if the scenario involves flipping a switch on synchronized hardware, it’s always the DRP.
ISC2 CC Business Continuity, DR & Incident Response Practice Question
This CC practice question tests your understanding of business continuity, dr & incident response. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A company's primary data center is destroyed by a natural disaster. The backup site has been fully synchronized but needs to be activated. Which process addresses the activation of the backup site?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "primary"
Why it matters: Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Disaster Recovery Plan (DRP)
The Disaster Recovery Plan (DRP) specifically outlines the procedures for activating a backup site after a primary data center failure. In this scenario, the backup site is fully synchronized but requires activation, which involves steps like DNS changes, storage array failover (e.g., using synchronous replication with a quorum witness), and network reconfiguration. The DRP is the document that contains these technical recovery steps, distinguishing it from broader continuity or incident response plans.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Risk Management Plan
Why it's wrong here
Risk management is proactive, not reactive to a disaster.
✗
Incident Response Plan (IRP)
Why it's wrong here
IRP handles security incidents, not natural disaster recovery.
✓
Disaster Recovery Plan (DRP)
Why this is correct
DRP specifically addresses IT infrastructure recovery and activation of backup sites.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Business Continuity Plan (BCP)
Why it's wrong here
BCP covers overall business continuation but specific IT recovery is part of DRP.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
ISC2 often tests the distinction between BCP and DRP by presenting a scenario where the backup site is already synchronized but needs activation, leading candidates to incorrectly choose BCP because they confuse business continuity with technical disaster recovery.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Activating a backup site often involves updating DNS TTL values to redirect traffic, initiating storage replication failover (e.g., using synchronous replication with a consistency group to ensure data integrity), and re-establishing VPN tunnels or BGP peering. In a real-world scenario, a DRP might include a runbook with specific commands to change the active node in a stretched cluster (e.g., using VMware Site Recovery Manager or SQL Server Always On Availability Groups). A subtle behavior is that if the backup site was in a 'passive' state, activation may require bringing up database services and verifying replication lag to avoid split-brain scenarios.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A SOC analyst notices unusual lateral movement in the network at 2 AM. The IR playbook dictates: identify and contain (isolate the affected machine), then eradicate (remove the malware), then recover (restore from backup), then document. Skipping containment before eradication risks the attacker regaining access. Questions like this test the sequence and rationale of incident response phases.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this CC question in full detail.
Business Continuity, DR & Incident Response — This question tests Business Continuity, DR & Incident Response — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Disaster Recovery Plan (DRP) — The Disaster Recovery Plan (DRP) specifically outlines the procedures for activating a backup site after a primary data center failure. In this scenario, the backup site is fully synchronized but requires activation, which involves steps like DNS changes, storage array failover (e.g., using synchronous replication with a quorum witness), and network reconfiguration. The DRP is the document that contains these technical recovery steps, distinguishing it from broader continuity or incident response plans.
What should I do if I get this CC question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "primary". Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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