Disaster Recovery Test Planning

The Minnesota Department of Information Technology Services (MNIT) partnering with the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) is seeking a parttime resource to work closely with MNIT/MnDOTs Disaster Recovery Team and staff to bring the skills and background necessary to assist in guidance and training and to implement a successful MNIT/MnDOT Disaster Recovery Test Program.

• The resource selected should have a solid history of disaster recovery preparedness testing support and a proven track record of engaging with governmental entities.
• The resource should have prior experience facilitating complex tests involving multiple applications and disparate stakeholder groups.
• The State is looking for a true subject matter expert that can help guide past common pitfalls to a place where stakeholders are well taken care of and team members are comfortable with their roles in the event of a disaster.
• MNIT/MnDOT has disaster recovery plans in place for many applications but need to boost testing efforts to validate these plans and update them where appropriate.
• MNIT/MnDOT does not have current staff with an extensive testing background and having a resource to shadow during this process is critical.

At a high level the resource will:

• Engage with IT and Business stakeholders to develop tabletop testing scenarios for at least three distinct events.
• Test 1 will focus on applications related to document storage (eDOCS and related apps)
• Test 2 will focus on applications used by RTMC
• Test 3 TBD
• Develop training/support materials as needed for IT DR team on testing best practices
• Mentor IT DR team in test facilitation

Sample Tasks

• Tabletop testing facilitation preparation and follow up documentation for at least three scenarios.
• The three scenarios expected at this time are a test of the application eDOCS and dependent apps applications used by RTMC and a third scenario with a scope to be determined. The applications for this third exercise will be determined by MNIT/MnDOT staff based on the current business need after completing the first two scenarios.
• Training/support material creation.
• Rewrite existing MNIT/MnDOT training guide
• Create new Disaster Recovery training for internal team focused on testing
• Leadership training slide presentation
• Providing training to existing staff
• Testing facilitation training for internal DR staff
• Leadership training overview of Disaster Recovery
• Provide knowledge transfer

Desired Skills

• 3 years experience facilitating disaster recovery testing
• Experience in state or federal government or critical infrastructure disaster preparedness
• Successfully completed at least 2 client engagements focused on disaster recovery testing
• Broad experience in cybersecurity with a thorough understanding of application infrastructure models including Azure cloud
• Clear communication style with the ability to speak to both technical details with team members and highlevel summaries with executive leadership.
• Any relevant Security certification(s)
• Work experience as part of a dedicated disaster recovery team