What plan describes how an organization manages a major outage?

The plan that specifically addresses how an organization manages a major outage is the disaster recovery plan. This type of plan outlines the procedures to recover and protect a business IT infrastructure in the event of a catastrophe. A disaster recovery plan typically includes detailed steps on how to restore operations to normal after a significant disruption, including the restoration of data, systems, and technology.

While business continuity is also crucial, it encompasses a broader strategy that ensures that an organization can continue its essential functions during and after a disaster. Business continuity involves not just recovering IT systems and data but also maintaining essential operations to keep the organization running. On the other hand, a contingency plan may outline different responses to unexpected events but does not specifically focus on major outages in the same way a disaster recovery plan does.

In summary, the disaster recovery plan is the specific component that deals directly with the management and recovery from a major outage, whereas the business continuity plan ensures ongoing operations in broader circumstances.