434 ◾ Information Systems: What Every Business Student Needs to Know
of business during the months that can take. Companies should plan alternate processing
locations for use if their main site becomes unavailable.
Database backup is part of this picture, but only part of it. Backup ensures that a data-
base can be restored—but where? Facilities must be planned for, to be ready when needed.
Backup sites include hot sites and cold sites.
Hot sites are fully equipped data centers that require only an up-to-date copy of an orga-
nization’s database in order to take over its information processing. ey can be online in
seconds to hours. An organization normally plans its backup strategy to support the hot
site if need be, so switchover time is ...