Which type of disaster recovery test requires the least amount of time from the disaster recovery team?

The type of disaster recovery test that requires the least amount of time from the disaster recovery team is a tabletop exercise. In this type of test, team members gather to discuss and walk through the steps of the disaster recovery plan in a low-stress environment, often without any physical disruption to services or systems. It involves discussing specific scenarios and how they would respond to them; hence, it is more about communication and strategy than execution.

Tabletop exercises typically do not require actual deployment of systems or resources, making them far less time-consuming than other types of tests like full interruption tests, which involve shutting down systems to test recovery processes thoroughly. Parallel tests occur when systems are running concurrently with their backups, adding complexity and time. Simulation tests involve active testing of the systems in a controlled environment, which also demands considerable time for setup and execution.

In summary, because tabletop exercises focus on discussion and planning rather than active implementation or simulation, they demand the least amount of time from the disaster recovery team.