What type of analysis is conducted to determine the potential impact of a disruption on critical functions?

A business impact analysis (BIA) is specifically designed to identify and evaluate the potential impacts that disruptions might have on critical business functions. It assesses the effects of interruptions on the delivery of products and services, identifying which functions are essential for the organization to operate effectively. This analysis helps prioritize recovery efforts and resource allocation in the event of an incident.

During a BIA, organizations assess various factors such as the maximum allowable downtime for essential processes, the dependencies between different functions, and the financial impacts of disruptions. This structured approach provides valuable insights that are crucial for developing business continuity plans and ensuring the resilience of critical operations.

In contrast, risk assessments focus more broadly on identifying vulnerabilities and threats to information assets but do not typically concentrate exclusively on the impacts of disruptions to business functions. An organizational performance review evaluates overall effectiveness and efficiency but does not address disruption scenarios directly. A threat analysis assesses specific threats to the organization but lacks the broader impact perspective that a BIA provides. Therefore, the BIA is the most appropriate tool for understanding the potential impacts of disruptions on critical functions.