What is the primary method of ensuring continuous operation during hardware failure?

The primary method of ensuring continuous operation during hardware failure is through redundant hardware. This approach involves deploying additional hardware components that can take over automatically when a primary component fails, thereby minimizing downtime and maintaining operational integrity. Redundant hardware configurations often include duplicate systems, such as power supplies, processing units, or data storage devices, which provide backup in case of a failure event.

This strategy is critical in environments where availability is paramount, such as data centers and critical infrastructure. By having redundant hardware in place, organizations can seamlessly transition to backup components without significant disruption to service or data accessibility. This is why redundant hardware is considered a foundational aspect of maintaining continuous operations even when primary systems encounter issues.