T 0.25 Failure of Devices or Systems

The failure of a single component of an IT system can lead to a failure of the entire IT operation and hence to the failure of critical business processes. In particular, key components of an IT system for example, servers and network coupling elements, are likely to cause such failures. A failure of individual components of the technical infrastructure, such as air-conditioning or power supply facilities, may contribute to a failure of the entire information network as well.

The reason for a failure of an IT system is not always technical malfunction (e.g. T 0.8 Failure or disruption of the power supply). Failures can often be attributed to human error (e.g. T 0.24 Destruction of devices or storage media) or intentional acts (e.g. T 0.16 Theft of devices, storage media and documents, T 0.41 Sabotage). Also, lack of maintenance, for example due to absence of maintenance personnel, can lead to technical failure. Force majeure (such as fire, lightning, chemical accidents) can also cause damage, but this damage is usually many times higher.

If time-critical applications run on an IT system without any alternatives, the consequential damages after a system outage is respectively high.

Examples:

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