Purpose

This document outlines MailSlurp’s Business Continuity Management (BCP) and Disaster Recovery (DR) policies and procedures. The objective is to ensure the continuous availability of our enterprise SaaS platform, minimize downtime during disruptive events, and protect customer data. Our strategy is aligned with industry best practices and regulatory compliance requirements.

Scope

This policy applies to all critical business functions, systems, and infrastructure components supporting MailSlurp, including web applications, APIs, databases, and AWS cloud services. It covers planned events, unplanned disruptions, natural disasters, cyber incidents, and other emergencies.

Roles and Responsibilities

  • Business Continuity Manager (BCM):
    Oversees the implementation, testing, and maintenance of the BCP and DR plans and ensures alignment with business and compliance requirements.
  • Disaster Recovery Team (DRT):
    Executes the DR plan, including system restoration and data recovery, and coordinates communications during an incident.
  • Incident Response Team (IRT):
    Works in conjunction with the DRT to manage immediate incident response activities.
  • Executive Leadership:
    Provides oversight, approves updates to the plans, and ensures adequate resources and training.
  • All Employees:
    Must understand their roles within the BCP/DR framework and participate in training and simulation exercises.

Business Continuity Management (BCP)

  1. Critical Function Identification:

    • Document and prioritize critical business functions and systems.
    • Define Recovery Time Objectives (RTOs) and Recovery Point Objectives (RPOs) for each function.

  2. Risk Assessment:

    • Conduct regular risk assessments to identify potential threats and vulnerabilities.
    • Evaluate the impact of risks on operations and prioritize recovery strategies accordingly.

  3. Continuity Strategies:

    • Leverage AWS Cloud services for high availability, redundancy, and geographic diversity.
    • Implement automated failover, load balancing, and data replication to ensure uninterrupted service.

  4. Communication Plan:

    • Establish clear communication channels and protocols for internal and external stakeholders.
    • Provide timely incident notifications and status updates during disruptions.

  5. Training and Testing:

    • Regularly conduct training sessions and simulation exercises to validate the BCP.
    • Update the plan annually or after significant operational changes.

Disaster Recovery (DR)

  1. DR Objectives:

    • Define and document RTOs and RPOs for all critical systems.
    • Ensure that DR strategies align with business continuity goals and compliance standards.

  2. DR Strategies and Procedures:

    • Utilize AWS backup and replication services to maintain current copies of data and system configurations.
    • Employ infrastructure-as-code techniques for rapid redeployment of critical systems.
    • Maintain an inventory of critical assets and their interdependencies to facilitate efficient recovery.

  3. Activation and Execution:

    • Clearly define triggers for activating the DR plan.
    • Follow documented procedures for system recovery, including escalation processes and coordination with the IRT.
    • Execute recovery steps in a controlled manner and verify system integrity post-recovery.

  4. Post-Disaster Review:

    • Conduct a comprehensive review following any incident to assess the effectiveness of the DR plan.
    • Document lessons learned and update DR procedures to improve future responses.
    • Report findings to executive leadership and stakeholders.

Monitoring and Maintenance

  • Regular Audits and Reviews:
    Conduct periodic reviews and audits of the BCP/DR plans to ensure they remain effective, current, and aligned with business needs.
  • Continuous Improvement:
    Integrate feedback from training exercises, actual incidents, and technology updates into the BCP/DR documentation.
  • Documentation Management:
    Maintain version control and detailed change logs to support compliance and facilitate audits.

Conclusion

MailSlurp is committed to ensuring the resilience and continuity of its services through a robust Business Continuity Management and Disaster Recovery framework. By leveraging AWS Cloud capabilities, implementing rigorous recovery procedures, and conducting regular testing and training, we safeguard our operations and customer data against a wide range of potential disruptions.

Approved by: Jack Mahoney, CTO
Approval Date: January 15, 2025
Next Review Date: January 15, 2026