NIST 800-53 REV 5 • CONTINGENCY PLANNING
CP-7(4) — Preparation for Use
Prepare the alternate processing site so that the site can serve as the operational site supporting essential mission and business functions.
Supplemental Guidance
Site preparation includes establishing configuration settings for systems at the alternate processing site consistent with the requirements for such settings at the primary site and ensuring that essential supplies and logistical considerations are in place.
Practitioner Notes
This enhancement requires your alternate processing site to be ready to use immediately — not requiring hours or days of setup before operations can begin.
Example 1: Maintain a hot standby environment in your secondary Azure region with VMs pre-deployed (but deallocated) and data replicated, allowing activation within minutes.
Example 2: Pre-install and configure networking equipment, servers, and workstations at your physical alternate site so staff can walk in and begin working immediately.