Definition
Impact refers to the effect or consequence of an action, event, or change on a system, process, or outcome. In technology, it is assessed to understand potential benefits or detriments before implementation or during incident response. By analyzing impact, professionals can prioritize actions, allocate resources effectively, and make informed decisions to mitigate risks or capitalize on opportunities. For instance, assessing the impact of a network outage involves determining how many users are affected, what critical services are unavailable, and the potential financial losses. This differs from a 'risk' which is the probability of an event occurring, whereas impact is the severity of the consequences if it does occur. Understanding impact is crucial for domains like IT Service Management, Risk Management, and Business Continuity planning, appearing in certifications such as the ITIL Foundation and CISSP.