- Facilitated Risk Analysis Process (FRAP)A methodology for performing risk analysis and assessment within an organization. It is a qualitative risk management approach that involves identifying threats and vulnerabilities and then discussing potential impacts and countermeasures with the aim of prioritizing risks. FRAP is designed to be less time-consuming than quantitative risk analysis by focusing on the most critical assets and their most likely threats, facilitating the involvement of multiple stakeholders to reach a consensus on risk priorities and mitigation strategies. It provides a streamlined process that organizations can use to quickly identify and address their most significant risks.
- Fail-open A fail-open design refers to a security system's configuration that, in the event of a system failure, defaults to an "open" state, allowing all traffic or access. This approach prioritizes availability and continuity of operations over strict access control, often used in scenarios where service disruption is unacceptable despite the potential security risks it could introduce. This could also be doors that fail-open in case of an emergency, to allow for safe egress from a building.
- Fail-Over (Fail-over) A backup operational mode in which the functions of a system component (such as a processor, server, network, or database) are assumed by secondary system components when the primary component becomes unavailable through either failure or scheduled downtime. Fail-over helps maintain high availability and reliability by ensuring that services continue to operate in the event of a component failure. This process can occur automatically without human intervention or can be manually triggered.
- Failsafe A fail-safe design ensures that in the event of a system failure or malfunction, the system will default to a safe or minimal risk condition to prevent or minimize harm or damage. Failsafe mechanisms are critical in various industries and technologies, such as in aviation, automotive safety systems, and nuclear power plants, where a failure could have severe consequences. In computing, a failsafe may involve switching to a backup system or mode of operation that maintains service continuity at a reduced capacity.
- Fail secure A security term describing a feature or state where, upon failure, a system remains secure. In a fail-secure setup, if a component or system fails, it defaults to a locked or protected state rather than an open or unsecured one. This concept is commonly applied to access control systems, such as locked doors that remain locked during a power outage, ensuring that security is maintained even when the system's primary operation is compromised.
- Fail-soft A type of fail-over system that is designed to provide a reduced level of service in the event of a failure or interruption. It is used to ensure the availability of services in case of failure but at a lower level than the primary system. For example, a fail-soft system may provide a limited number of services in case of a failure rather than all services.
- Fallback Procedures Predetermined plans designed to help an organization maintain or quickly resume mission-critical functions in the event of an interruption or failure. The fallback procedures come into play when normal processes cannot continue and often involve the use of redundant systems, backups, or alternative methods to continue operations until normal conditions are restored.
- Fall-through Logic In programming, fall-through logic occurs in switch-case statements where the absence of a break statement causes the execution to continue from one case into the subsequent case. It's intentional in certain programming scenarios but should be used cautiously to prevent logic errors. In security, careful design is required to avoid unintended actions from fall-through behavior, especially in authentication or access control decisions.
- False Acceptance Rate (FAR) A measure used in biometric security systems to indicate the probability that the system will incorrectly accept an unauthorized user. It is one of the key metrics, along with the False Rejection Rate (FRR), used to assess the performance of a biometric system. A low FAR is desired as it reflects a higher level of security, indicating that the system is less likely to permit access to an unauthorized individual. However, system designers must balance FAR with FRR to ensure the system is both secure and user-friendly.
- False Negative An instance in system monitoring or threat detection where a genuine problem, such as a security breach, system failure, or malicious activity, goes unnoticed. A false negative essentially means the system failed to recognize and alert a real issue, which is highly concerning as it can lead to significant damage or security compromises without immediate detection or resolution.
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