What is most useful in developing a series of recovery time objectives (RTOs)?

The most useful approach in developing a series of Recovery Time Objectives (RTOs) is conducting a Business Impact Analysis (BIA). A BIA is critical for identifying and assessing the potential impacts of disruptions on an organization’s operations and processes. It helps in understanding which business functions are essential to the organization and how quickly those functions need to be restored after a disruption.

By performing a BIA, organizations can identify the maximum allowable downtime for critical processes, which directly informs the establishment of RTOs. This analysis also takes into account the relationships and dependencies between various business units and resources, helping to prioritize recovery efforts based on the potential impact of losing those functions.

The other options, while valuable in their own right, do not specifically focus on the timely recovery of critical functions in the context of business continuity planning as effectively as a BIA does. For instance, regression analysis typically pertains to statistical analysis and trend forecasting rather than direct operational recovery needs. Risk analysis focuses more broadly on identifying and evaluating risks but does not specifically assess recovery timelines. Gap analysis is useful for comparing current performance with desired outcomes but does not inherently address the timeframes necessary for recovery from disruptions. Thus, a BIA is uniquely suited to guide the development of RTOs effectively