What does the term 'disaster recovery' refer to in cloud computing?

The term 'disaster recovery' in cloud computing specifically refers to strategies that are implemented to recover data and applications following a disruptive event. This might encompass natural disasters, cyber attacks, hardware failures, or any other incident that could potentially disrupt the availability of services or the integrity of data. The primary goal is to ensure that a business can quickly resume operations with minimal downtime and data loss.

Disaster recovery involves planning and procedures that dictate how data can be restored, how backup systems can be activated, and how communications are managed in the aftermath of a disruption. It emphasizes the importance of having a robust backup strategy, including off-site storage and the ability to restore systems quickly. This aspect is critical for businesses that rely on cloud services, as it ensures continuity and reliability in service delivery.

In contrast, the other choices do not accurately capture the essence of disaster recovery. Preventing data from being stored does not relate to recovery but rather to data management strategies. Strategies aimed at enhancing system performance focus on optimization rather than recovery. Lastly, transferring data sites might relate to data migration or backup processes but does not encompass the broader concept of recovering from disasters. Thus, focusing on the recovery aspect emphasizes the need for preparedness and the ability to restore vital services and information.