A hot site should be implemented as a recovery strategy when:

Implementing a hot site as a recovery strategy is particularly suitable when disaster downtime tolerance is low. A hot site allows for near-instantaneous recovery of operations, as it comprises fully operational equipment and up-to-date data that can be switched over to in the event of a disruption. This capability is crucial for organizations that cannot afford significant downtime due to the critical nature of their operations or services.

In scenarios where downtime must be minimized—such as in financial institutions, healthcare systems, or emergency services—the speed of restoring IT services becomes paramount. Hence, the use of a hot site directly addresses this need by ensuring that systems can be quickly made operational, thereby supporting business continuity.

Other options, such as a high recovery point objective or a high recovery time objective, do not necessarily justify the need for a hot site. A high recovery point objective indicates that older data can be tolerated, which may not require the immediacy of a hot site. Likewise, a high recovery time objective signifies that longer recovery durations are acceptable, potentially allowing for less costly backup solutions rather than a fully equipped hot site. Additionally, a long maximum tolerable downtime points to a capacity of enduring service interruptions, which further reduces the necessity for a hot site. Hence, the use