That's not an exception, I think? Most online service businesses that I've worked with wouldn't be able to run their operations from a "cold start". That takes a lot of effort to engineer and in practice it doesn't happen enough, so that's a risk that most are willing to run with.
Really? Everywhere else I’ve worked has been able to.
I’m not saying all the data in the database. Pretend your DB is fine or you have a full up to date backup. I know losing that KILLS businesses. But in my example just the web server immolated and the backup tapes sitting next to it melted.
Can you set up a new web server?
As a Java developer it’s usually install OS, add Apache + Tomcat, set a few basic config parameters, copy WARs.
