Which of the following is an organization's planned response to protect its information in case of a natural disaster?

A contingency plan is an organization's deliberate strategy designed to respond effectively to emergencies, including natural disasters, to safeguard its information and maintain operational continuity. This type of plan outlines specific actions to be taken before, during, and after a disruptive event, detailing procedures for data protection, recovery processes, and communication strategies to ensure that critical operations can continue or swiftly resume.

In the context of safeguarding information, a contingency plan encompasses elements such as data backups, recovery processes, resource allocation, and roles and responsibilities of personnel during a disaster. By preparing for potential scenarios, organizations can minimize the impact of unforeseen events and ensure the resilience of their information systems.

The other options relate to different aspects of organizational control. Administrative controls deal with policies and procedures that govern the behavior of employees, physical controls pertain to tangible measures taken to protect physical assets, and an audit trail involves tracking system activity to ensure accountability and compliance, rather than specifically addressing disaster response.