Service Resilience & Software Risk

We increasingly rely on services implemented by digital systems. The software components of these systems are mostly sourced by service providers from outside sources. The digital systems built from these components are complex and tightly coupled. These characteristics mean that the combination of human error, cyber-attack and Natural Accident Theory will result in unpredictable service outages. These service outages are already a significant cost to the UK economy; to individual users, to citizens and to the public at large. All are seriously affected when service outages occur. Digital systems are not within users’ choice, care or control, but they are becoming systems upon which users must rely. The costs and consequences of software failure and service outages are increasing due to technological as well as human factors. In addition to growing technological complexity, the widening use of AI and the escalating frequency of cyber-attacks carry increased risk of failures. The expanding reach of services means that more people are affected by service outages – the loss of “user hours” through service outages is increasingly recognised as a key measure. This webinar reflects the recommendations on “what can be done” from a RoundTable of the National Preparedness Commission, Business Continuity Institute and BCS (was British Computer Society).