Describe the difference between hot and cold backups.

The distinction between hot and cold backups primarily revolves around accessibility and operational uptime. Hot backups are performed while the system is online and operational, allowing users to continue accessing the system without interruption. This means that the data captured in a hot backup is current and immediately available for recovery, making it a critical strategy for environments that require high availability.

In contrast, cold backups occur when the system is offline, often requiring downtime for the backup process to take place. This results in a snapshot of the system at a specific point in time, but it is not immediately available for restoration until the system is brought back online.

This difference in operational status—immediate availability of hot backups vs. the downtime needed for cold backups—makes option B the correct choice, as it accurately encapsulates the core difference between the two approaches to data backup.