A set of components whose failure would significantly impact or halt an organization’s operations, potentially causing considerable financial loss, reputational damage, or even endangerment of human life. These systems are indispensable for maintaining essential business processes and ensuring continuity of service. For example, systems managing air traffic control, nuclear power plants, hospital life support, or core banking transactions all fall under this category, as their interruption could have severe consequences.
The importance of these systems stems from their role in safeguarding organizational stability and minimizing potential risks. Investing in robust design, redundancy, and rigorous testing protocols is essential for ensuring their consistent availability and reliability. Historically, these systems were primarily associated with large-scale infrastructure and government operations; however, with increasing digitalization, the scope has expanded to include various industries relying on uninterrupted data processing and service delivery.
