Annex F

Service Disruption Types

FIRE uses four primary disruption categories, each with subtypes, to classify how a service was disrupted. Multiple types may apply to the same incident. This field is essential from the Intermediate phase.

Type Description
Availability Loss
Total Complete loss of service or function — the service is wholly unavailable to users.
Partial Loss of service for some users or some functions, while other users or functions remain accessible.
Intermittent The service alternates between being available and unavailable — users experience repeated outages during the incident window.
Degradation The service remains available but performs at significantly reduced capacity or speed, affecting user experience and operational throughput.
Integrity Loss
Manipulation Data or system outputs have been deliberately altered without authorisation — affecting the accuracy or reliability of information.
Corruption Data or system state has been damaged or made inaccurate, typically through an unintended technical failure rather than deliberate action.
Destruction Data or systems have been intentionally or irreversibly destroyed, rendering them unrecoverable without backup restoration.
Confidentiality Loss
Unintended Disclosure Sensitive or protected information has been shared or made accessible to unauthorised parties inadvertently — without intent to disclose.
Unauthorised Acquisition Sensitive or protected information has been deliberately accessed, copied, or exfiltrated by an unauthorised party.
Loss of Trust
Impersonation The entity, its communications, or its services have been falsely represented by an unauthorised party — for example, fake websites, spoofed emails, or fraudulent customer contact.
Disinformation False or misleading information about the entity has been deliberately created and circulated — for example, fabricated news, false statements attributed to the entity.
Rumour Unverified or speculative information about the entity has spread — without confirmation that it is deliberate disinformation — causing reputational or operational harm.
Other
Unknown The type of service disruption has not yet been determined.
Other The disruption type does not fit any of the above categories. A free-text description should be provided where possible.