Which testing method must be performed to demonstrate the effectiveness of a business continuity plan and procedures?

The correct choice, which is to perform a failover test, is essential for demonstrating the effectiveness of a business continuity plan and procedures. A failover test simulates the failure of systems or processes to ensure that backup systems can take over seamlessly and operations can continue with minimal disruption. This testing method reveals how well the business continuity plan is implemented in practice, assessing the readiness of the organization to handle unforeseen disruptions.

In a failover scenario, you evaluate how the alternate systems respond, whether data is accurately maintained, and how quickly teams can restore normal operations. This practical approach provides insights into areas of strength and identifies opportunities for improvement in the plan.

Other testing methods like penetration testing, dynamic application security testing (DAST), and static application security testing (SAST) primarily focus on identifying vulnerabilities and security flaws in systems but do not specifically assess the organization’s preparedness to sustain operations during an incident. Therefore, they do not address the core objective of validating the business continuity plan directly.