Copies of vital records must be stored off-site as soon as possible after creation. Back-up vital records must be readily accessible for emergency retrieval. Access to back-up vital records should be adequately controlled to ensure that they are reliable for business resumption purposes. For certain critical business operations or services, licensees should consider the need for instantaneous data back up to ensure prompt system and data recovery. There should be clear procedures indicating how and in what priority vital records are to be retrieved or recreated in the event that they are lost, damaged or destroyed.