What may be measured to assess incident impact?

To assess the impact of a security incident, it is important to consider multiple factors that collectively provide a comprehensive understanding of the incident's consequences.

The duration of downtime is a critical measure as it indicates how long systems or services were unavailable to users. Extended downtime can lead to significant operational disruptions and can also affect service level agreements (SLAs) with customers.

The cost of recovery involves quantifying the financial resources required to restore operations and mitigate the effects of the incident. This includes not just direct costs like technology repairs but also indirect costs such as potential loss of business during recovery, hiring external consultants, and implementing new security measures to prevent future incidents.

Reputation damage is a vital aspect as well; the perception of a company after an incident can significantly impact customer trust and future business opportunities. Negative media coverage or customer backlash can have long-lasting effects, making it essential to gauge the reputational damage that might result from such incidents.

By taking all these aspects into account—downtime, recovery costs, and reputation—organizations can arrive at a holistic assessment of an incident's impact. Therefore, measuring all of these factors is crucial for a complete understanding of the incident's repercussions.