A(n) ______ is an analysis of critical systems and the impact of their outages on a business.

A business impact analysis (BIA) is an essential tool used to analyze critical systems and evaluate the potential impact that outages may have on a business. The purpose of a BIA is to identify which aspects of a business are crucial for operation and how their disruption could affect both the organization and its stakeholders. This analysis helps prioritize recovery efforts and resources in the event of a disruption.

During a BIA, organizations assess the potential consequences of losing various business functions, which includes evaluating financial losses, reputational damage, legal ramifications, and operational effects. The BIA facilitates informed decision-making about continuity planning by providing a clearer understanding of risks and enabling the development of strategies to mitigate those risks effectively.

Other terms, such as security policy or acceptable use policy (AUP), relate to guidelines and rules governing information security and user behavior, but they do not focus specifically on the analysis of systems and the impact of outages. A risk assessment may cover a broader spectrum of threats and vulnerabilities, but it does not specifically zero in on the consequences of an outage or system failure in the same detailed way that a BIA does. Therefore, in the context of analyzing critical systems and their impact on business operations, a business impact analysis is the most appropriate term.