Which backup approach offers no hardware setup and a long setup time?

The choice indicating a Cold Site as the backup approach that requires no hardware setup and has a long setup time is accurate. A Cold Site is typically a facility that is available for use in case of a disaster but does not have any active hardware resources configured or ready for immediate use. Instead, it provides the necessary environment where organizations can set up their systems and restore operations after a disruptive event.

Since there is no pre-configured hardware, organizations will need to take considerable time to acquire and set up all necessary equipment, networks, and data at a Cold Site. This can lead to a prolonged recovery time because the organization must go through the entire process of gathering resources and restoring backups, which often involves reinstallation and configuration of software applications and systems.

In contrast, options such as Hot Sites and Warm Sites contain varying levels of prepared hardware that allow for quicker recovery times. A Hot Site is fully equipped and operational, allowing for immediate redundancy, while a Warm Site has some hardware and is partially configured, allowing for quicker restoration than a Cold Site but not as fast as a Hot Site. A Mirrored System typically involves real-time data replication to another site, enabling near-instantaneous switchover, thus minimizing downtime significantly.