What is a cold site in the context of disaster recovery?

A cold site in the context of disaster recovery refers to a location that does not have any computer equipment or active technology infrastructure in place. It is essentially a bare facility or a space that can be used as a backup location in the event of a disaster but lacks the necessary hardware, software, and systems that are required to resume business operations immediately.

The key aspect of a cold site is that while it can serve as a backup plan, it is not operational until the organization brings in the required equipment and data to make it functional again. This can result in significant downtime, as the process to set up the site and restore operations can take considerable time and resources.

This understanding clarifies the distinct characteristics of cold sites compared to other disaster recovery strategies, such as hot sites (which are fully equipped and ready for immediate use) or warm sites (which may have some hardware in place but still require additional setup). Therefore, the definition of a cold site being devoid of any computer equipment is essential in distinguishing its role and limitations in a disaster recovery plan.