A tailored course, built for your situation
Mastering NIST Special Publication 800-34 Revision 1; A Complete Guide to Contingency Planning Implementation, Compliance and Audit Readiness
Turn federal contingency planning from audit drag to strategic advantage
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12 modules. 12 chapters per module. 144 chapters total.
12 modules, each with 12 chapters (144 chapters total), text-based, plus downloadable templates and a hand-built implementation playbook delivered alongside course access.
Contingency plans that keep failing audit review cycles
The situation this course is for
Most 800-34 implementations are built reactively, crafted late, revised repeatedly, and validated under pressure. This leads to blown timelines, strained client trust, and eroded margins. The root cause isn't lack of knowledge; it's the absence of a repeatable, evidence-first delivery model.
Who this is for
Compliance and risk practitioners delivering federal IT standards, especially those transitioning from checklist execution to advisory ownership
Who this is not for
Entry-level auditors, pure policy writers, or those only interested in theoretical frameworks without implementation focus
What you walk away with
- Deliver 800-34 compliance packages that pass federal audit review on first submission
- Reduce implementation cycle time from weeks to under 72 hours of active work
- Shift from time-and-materials delivery to fixed-fee, higher-margin engagements
- Build reusable evidence templates that compound across client work
- Position yourself as the go-to implementer, not just reviewer, of federal contingency plans
The 12 modules (with all 144 chapters)
Module 1. Understanding the 800-34 Revision 1 Core Mandate
Break down the official scope, objectives, and structural updates in the latest revision with direct implementation implications.
12 chapters in this module
- Overview of NIST 800-34 Revision 1 versus prior versions
- Key changes in contingency planning expectations
- Federal system categorization and impact levels
- Mapping 800-34 to FISMA and OMB requirements
- The role of senior leadership in contingency planning
- Defining system boundaries for federal IT environments
- Identifying critical services and recovery priorities
- Aligning with NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF)
- Understanding compliance obligations for contractors
- Common misinterpretations of 800-34 scope
- How agencies interpret 'contingency' differently
- Setting the foundation for audit-ready documentation
Module 2. Initiating the Contingency Planning Process
Launch implementation with correct scoping, team alignment, and stakeholder buy-in.
12 chapters in this module
- Formal initiation: Creating the project charter
- Identifying key stakeholders and roles
- Establishing governance for the planning effort
- Defining success criteria for the contingency plan
- Securing executive sponsorship and resources
- Developing a realistic project timeline
- Integrating with existing risk management processes
- Using POAMs to track planning gaps
- Documenting assumptions and constraints
- Setting up version control and access protocols
- Aligning with incident response and DR teams
- Kickoff meeting agenda and participant checklist
Module 3. Conducting a Business Impact Analysis (BIA)
Build a defensible, audit-ready BIA that drives recovery priorities.
12 chapters in this module
- Purpose and components of a federal BIA
- Identifying mission-critical systems and functions
- Calculating Maximum Tolerable Downtime (MTD)
- Determining Recovery Time Objectives (RTO)
- Establishing Recovery Point Objectives (RPO)
- Collecting data from system owners and stakeholders
- Using surveys and interviews effectively
- Validating BIA findings with operational data
- Documenting dependencies between systems
- Handling shared services and cloud dependencies
- Presenting BIA results to decision-makers
- Updating the BIA for system changes
Module 4. Developing the Contingency Strategy
Translate BIA results into actionable, cost-effective recovery strategies.
12 chapters in this module
- Overview of contingency strategy options
- Selecting primary and alternate recovery sites
- Cold, warm, and hot site trade-offs for federal systems
- Cloud-based recovery strategies and FedRAMP alignment
- Data backup frequency and retention requirements
- Establishing redundant network paths
- Leveraging mutual aid agreements
- Evaluating commercial recovery services
- Cost-benefit analysis of recovery options
- Documenting strategy justification for auditors
- Integrating with agency-wide continuity programs
- Strategy validation through tabletop exercises
Module 5. Writing the Contingency Plan Document
Assemble a complete, clear, and auditor-friendly plan package.
12 chapters in this module
- Required components of the contingency plan
- Creating the introduction and purpose statement
- Documenting roles and responsibilities
- Developing activation procedures
- Writing clear recovery procedures
- Including system-specific recovery steps
- Integrating with incident response plans
- Adding contact lists and communication protocols
- Incorporating vendor and contractor roles
- Formatting for readability and audit review
- Version control and change management
- Final review and approval workflow
Module 6. Establishing Backup and Storage Procedures
Design secure, compliant, and recoverable data protection workflows.
12 chapters in this module
- Types of backups: full, incremental, differential
- Scheduling backups to meet RPOs
- Securing backup media in transit and storage
- Encryption requirements for backup data
- Offsite storage options and validation
- Cloud backup configurations and access
- Testing backup integrity and readability
- Retention periods based on data classification
- Chain of custody for backup media
- Documenting backup procedures for auditors
- Handling backup failures and alerts
- Automating backup verification processes
Module 7. Ensuring Data and System Backup Integrity
Prove that backups are usable, complete, and tamper-proof.
12 chapters in this module
- Verifying backup success through logs
- Conducting regular data restoration tests
- Testing full system recovery from backup
- Validating data consistency after restore
- Checking for corruption or incomplete transfers
- Using checksums and hashes for integrity
- Documenting test results and findings
- Addressing failed restoration attempts
- Scheduling integrity checks quarterly
- Integrating with SIEM and monitoring tools
- Handling encrypted systems in backup
- Ensuring backups meet non-repudiation standards
Module 8. Implementing Alternate Processing Site Arrangements
Validate and document failover capabilities with audit-grade evidence.
12 chapters in this module
- Types of alternate processing sites
- Site activation procedures and checklists
- Testing connectivity to alternate sites
- Validating access controls and credentials
- Ensuring data synchronization with primary site
- Documenting site agreements and SLAs
- Handling multi-agency or shared sites
- Cloud failover configuration and testing
- Power, cooling, and physical security checks
- Communications setup at alternate site
- Personnel deployment and logistics
- Post-activation monitoring and adjustments
Module 9. Conducting Contingency Plan Testing
Run tests that generate credible, reusable audit evidence.
12 chapters in this module
- Types of contingency testing: checklist, tabletop, simulation
- Scheduling tests to meet federal requirements
- Developing test scenarios based on BIA
- Creating test scripts and success criteria
- Conducting participant briefings and debriefings
- Documenting test observations and issues
- Capturing evidence for auditors
- Involving external stakeholders and vendors
- Using test results to update the plan
- Reporting test outcomes to leadership
- Maintaining test records for three years
- Automating test scheduling and reminders
Module 10. Training and Awareness for Contingency Roles
Ensure personnel are prepared and documented as such.
12 chapters in this module
- Identifying training requirements by role
- Developing role-specific training materials
- Conducting initial and refresher training
- Using e-learning and in-person sessions
- Documenting attendance and completion
- Testing knowledge retention
- Integrating with security awareness programs
- Handling contractor and temporary staff
- Updating training after plan changes
- Aligning with OPM and CISA guidelines
- Measuring training effectiveness
- Maintaining training records for audit
Module 11. Maintaining and Updating the Contingency Plan
Keep the plan current and audit-ready between cycles.
12 chapters in this module
- Triggers for plan updates
- Change management process for plan revisions
- Reviewing plan after system changes
- Updating after test results or incidents
- Annual review requirements
- Version control and approval workflow
- Communicating changes to stakeholders
- Archiving old versions securely
- Using CMDBs to track dependencies
- Integrating with configuration management
- Documenting update history for auditors
- Automating update reminders and triggers
Module 12. Preparing for Compliance and Audit Review
Package evidence to pass federal audit with minimal rework.
12 chapters in this module
- Understanding auditor expectations for 800-34
- Compiling the audit evidence package
- Organizing documentation for easy review
- Highlighting test results and training records
- Demonstrating management approval
- Showing plan alignment with BIA
- Providing proof of backup integrity
- Documenting alternate site validation
- Addressing prior audit findings
- Responding to auditor inquiries efficiently
- Using templates to standardize submissions
- Creating a self-assessment checklist for readiness
How this maps to your situation
- Audit prep
- Client delivery
- Evidence packaging
- Cycle compression
Before vs. after
Before
Spending weeks compiling 800-34 evidence, revising plans under audit pressure, and delivering inconsistent client outcomes
After
Delivering audit-ready 800-34 packages in days, commanding premium fees, and scaling across federal clients
What's included with your purchase
- 12 modules with 12 chapters each (144 chapters)
- Downloadable templates and worked examples for every module
- Hand-built implementation playbook delivered alongside course access
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Delivery and format
- Course and learning environment access provisioned within 24 hours of purchase
- Hand-built implementation playbook delivered alongside course access
Format: Text-based modules and chapters in the Art of Service learning environment, plus downloadable templates and worked examples for every chapter, plus the hand-built implementation playbook delivered alongside course access.
Time investment: Approximately 6, 8 hours total, designed for completion in short sessions across one week.
If nothing changes
Without a repeatable model, practitioners remain trapped in reactive cycles, consuming bandwidth, eroding margins, and missing opportunities to lead higher-value engagements.
How this compares to the alternatives
Unlike generic NIST overviews or academic courses, this program delivers implementation-grade workflows, real audit evidence templates, and a proven delivery model used across federal contractors.
Frequently asked
Is this course focused on federal systems only?
Yes, it’s built specifically for federal information systems under FISMA, with examples from civilian and defense agencies.
How is the course structured?
12 modules, each containing 12 chapters (144 chapters total).
Can I use the templates for client work?
Yes, all templates are licensed for professional use across engagements.
$199 one-time. Approximately 6, 8 hours total, designed for completion in short sessions across one week..
Within 24 hours your account in the learning environment is provisioned and the tailored implementation playbook is delivered alongside it.
30-day money-back guarantee·144 chapters·Hand-built playbook included·
Account access within 24 hours