Definition
Business Impact Analysis (BIA) is a method for identifying an organisation's critical processes and evaluating the consequences of their disruption over a defined period.
Human Explanation
BIA helps answer which processes matter most, how long they can remain unavailable and what the consequences of interruption will be.
Why it Matters
Its results provide a basis for Business Continuity planning, Disaster Recovery and system restoration priorities.
Conceptual Boundary
BIA does not identify Threats or Vulnerabilities. It focuses on the effects of interrupted operations and the importance of individual processes to the organisation.
Practical Perspective
Not every process must be restored first. BIA supports rational recovery priorities and allocation of recovery effort.