What does the disaster recovery cost curve illustrate?

The disaster recovery cost curve illustrates the cost of unavailability of information and technology over time. As a business faces a disaster, the impact on operations can escalate quickly; the longer the downtime, the more financial losses and operational disruptions can accumulate. The curve visually represents how these costs change over time, allowing organizations to understand the urgency of implementing disaster recovery measures.

By analyzing this curve, decision-makers can determine how much they're willing to invest in disaster recovery compared to the potential losses from prolonged unavailability. It emphasizes the importance of having a proactive disaster recovery plan to minimize downtime and associated costs effectively. Understanding this curve can guide companies on resource allocation and planning to enhance their resilience against disasters.