CompTIA Cloud+ Practice Test

In disaster recovery planning, which option is least desirable for quick recovery due to significant downtime?

1. Hot site

2. Warm site

3. Active/passive

4. Cold site

The correct answer is: Cold site

In disaster recovery planning, a cold site is considered the least desirable option for quick recovery due to significant downtime. A cold site is essentially a secondary location that is set up to be a backup facility but lacks the critical components necessary for immediate operations. This type of site may have space and basic power and connectivity, but it does not typically include any data, hardware, or applications that would allow for rapid restoration of services. When a disaster occurs, organizations relying on a cold site will need to first procure hardware, install necessary software, and restore data from backups, which can lead to extended downtime. This delay in recovery can significantly impact business continuity and operations. In contrast, a hot site offers a fully operational facility that mirrors the primary site's environment, allowing for immediate switchover and minimal downtime. A warm site provides a balance with some hardware and data on standby, which enables quicker recovery than a cold site but does not provide the immediacy of a hot site. Lastly, active/passive configurations refer to systems designed for redundancy, where active systems provide service, and passive systems remain on standby until needed. Therefore, the cold site's inherent lack of readiness makes it the least desirable option for ensuring quick recovery after a disaster.