Using Business Impact Analysis to Inform Risk Prioritization and Response

Published

February 26, 2025

Author(s)

Stephen Quinn, Nahla Ivy, Julie Anne Chua, Matthew Barrett, Larry Feldman, Daniel Topper, Greg Witte, Robert Gardner

Abstract

While business impact analysis (BIA) has historically been used to determine availability requirements for business continuity, the process can be extended to provide a broad understanding of the potential impacts of any type of loss on the enterprise mission. The management of enterprise risk requires a comprehensive understanding of mission-essential functions (i.e., what must go right) and the potential risk scenarios that jeopardize those functions (i.e., what might go wrong). The process described in this publication helps leaders determine which assets enable the achievement of mission objectives and evaluate the factors that render assets as critical and sensitive. Based on those factors, enterprise leaders provide risk directives (i.e., risk appetite and tolerance) as input to the BIA. System owners then apply the BIA to developing asset categorization, impact values, and requirements for the protection of critical or sensitive assets. The output of the BIA is the foundation for the Enterprise Risk Management (ERM)/Cybersecurity Risk Management (CSRM) integration process, as described in the NIST Interagency Report (IR) 8286 series, and enables consistent prioritization, response, and communication regarding information security risk.

Citation

NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR) - 8286D-upd1

Report Number

8286D-upd1

NIST Pub Series

NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR)

Pub Type

NIST Pubs

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.IR.8286D-upd1

Local Download

Keywords

business impact analysis, cybersecurity risk management, cybersecurity risk register, enterprise risk management, information and communications technology.

Citation

Quinn, S. , Ivy, N. , Chua, J. , Barrett, M. , Feldman, L. , Topper, D. , Witte, G. and Gardner, R. (2025), Using Business Impact Analysis to Inform Risk Prioritization and Response, NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, [online], https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.IR.8286D-upd1, https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=959559 (Accessed February 28, 2025)