It Disaster Preparedness and Recovery in Deposit Taking Saccos in Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract

Organizations have realized that to continuously work towards accomplishing their goals; they need to put security measures to avoid losses. They are therefore devising ways to effectively prepare for IT related disasters. This study then concerned IT disaster preparedness and recovery in deposit taking SACCOs in Nairobi. The objectives for this study were to: determine the extent of IT disaster preparedness among SACCOs, determine, if any, the factors affecting the ability of SACCOs to prepare for an IT disaster and determine the link between IT disaster preparedness and disaster recovery. A descriptive research design was used. The study involves a census of the 39 deposits taking SACCOs in Nairobi County. Primary data was collected through the administration of questionnaires to ICT and risk managers. Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. It was found that most SACCOs had a primary back-up manager, a recovery management team, a back-up location, a recovery location, the list of critical data to be backed up to an offsite location and a technical recovery vendor, however for most of the SACCOs, the roles of the individuals making up the recovery management team are not clearly made known to them. Financial condition was the main factor that affected SACCOs ability to prepare for information technology disaster. The study concluded that back-up location, list of critical data to be backed up and primary vendor to manage recovery were significant in explaining the link between IT disaster preparedness and disaster recovery.