Criticality

Criticality is defined as the level of emphasis or the level of concern given to each part, process or event in the system. It is usually measured in relation to the probability of failure or maloperation of a system and is directly linked to the potential risks that may be attributed to certain elements or functions. Criticality analysis is useful in identifying the importance of various elements in the system in a bid to ascertain their importance in the overall functioning of the system especially in relation to the reliability of the system.

Factors Influencing Criticality

Several factors are considered when determining the criticality of a system's components:

• Importance of Data and Services: The size and the importance of the data that the system processes and the services it offers are the first factor. The systems that deal with the sensitive information or those that are of great use are usually considered to be more important.
• Rate and Magnitude of Potential Failure: This entails determining the probability and magnitude of occurrence of a failure. The parts that have higher probability of failure and those that can cause more loss are classified as critical parts.
• Interconnectivity of Components: Another factor that is considered concerning criticality is the degree of interaction between the components and processes. The systems that are highly interconnected may cause failure of other systems in the event of a failure and hence make the whole system more critical.

Criticality in Dependable Computing

In the dependable computing, criticality is one of the most important factors that determine the design of fault-tolerant systems. Fault tolerance is the design technique that aims at enabling a system to function properly even when some of its components or sub systems have failed. Some parts of the system, particularly those dealing with traffic or information, need to be safeguarded to ensure that they are operational even when conditions are unfavourable.

Risk Control and Criticality

To manage the risks associated with critical components, organizations must implement various risk control activities:

• Fault Tolerance: This is the process of developing systems that can function even in the face of failure without necessarily affecting the running of the system. Some of these include redundancy, error detection and correction, and failover mechanisms among others.
• Disaster Recovery: For the systems with high criticality it is crucial to have a proper disaster recovery plan. This means that in the case of a major disruption the system can be brought back to its working state as soon as possible thus minimizing the time that the system is down and the data that is lost.

Importance of Criticality in Organizational Systems

All organisations have applications and systems that are more important than others. These are the systems that are used to run the business, control important information or are crucial for the continuous operation of the company. The impacts of such disruptions can be catastrophic hence the need to determine the likelihood of occurrence and apply the right risk management measures.

For instance, in a financial institution, the systems that are involved in processing and recording of transactions and customers’ information are of the highest importance. Failure in these systems can result in financial loss, legal issues and damage to the company’s reputation. Hence, these systems are normally characterized by strict fault tolerance and disaster recovery measures to enhance their availability.

Conclusion

Criticality is a basic concept in system design and risk management which defines the degree of impact of the elements and activities of the system. Through criticality, organisations are able to allocate their resources and energy towards the protection of the most vital parts of the system to ensure that the system remains functional and credible even in the event of failure. Ensuring that the fault tolerance and disaster recovery is put in place is important in managing the risk of critical components, thus aiding the overall robustness of the system.