Which disaster recovery tests involve the actual activation of the disaster recovery site?

The correct choice is the one that highlights the type of disaster recovery test where the disaster recovery site is actually activated. Full interruption tests are characterized by the complete halting of regular operations to switch over to the disaster recovery site as if a real disaster has occurred. This approach allows for thorough testing of the disaster recovery plan in a real-world scenario, ensuring that all systems and processes function as intended when activated in response to a disaster.

In contrast, other testing methods vary in their scope and execution. Tabletop exercises typically involve discussions and walkthroughs of recovery plans without impacting actual operations; they focus more on reviewing and understanding the procedures rather than executing them. Parallel tests involve running the disaster recovery processes simultaneously with the regular systems, verifying that both can operate together without fully switching over. Simulation tests mimic the disaster scenario but do not require complete shutdowns or full activation of the disaster recovery site, focusing instead on evaluating the response and communication processes. Each of these methods serves a specific purpose in disaster recovery planning, but it is the full interruption tests that decisively test the viability of the recovery site through actual activation.