Categories of Harm and Impact Definitions

Inconvenience, distress, or damage to standing or reputation

at worst, limited, short-term inconvenience, distress or embarrassment to any party

at worst, serious short term or limited long-term inconvenience, distress or damage to the standing or reputation of any party

severe or serious long-term inconvenience, distress or damage to the standing or reputation of any party (ordinarily reserved for situations with particularly severe effects or which affect many individuals)

Financial loss

at worst, an insignificant or inconsequential unrecoverable financial loss to any party

at worst, a serious unrecoverable financial loss to any party

severe or catastrophic unrecoverable financial loss to any party

Agency liability

at worst, an insignificant or inconsequential agency liability

at worst, a serious agency liability

severe or catastrophic agency liability

Harm to agency programs or public interests

at worst, a limited adverse effect on organizational operations or assets, or public interests. Examples of limited adverse effects are: (1) mission capability degradation to the extent and duration that the organization is able to perform its primary functions with noticeably reduced effectiveness, or (2) minor damage to organizational assets or public interests

at worst, a serious adverse effect on organizational operations or assets, or public interests. Examples of serious adverse effects are: (1) significant mission capability degradation to the extent and duration that the organization is able to perform its primary functions with significantly reduced effectiveness; or (2) significant damage to organizational assets or public interests

a severe or catastrophic adverse effect on organizational operations or assets, or public interests. Examples of severe or catastrophic effects are: (1) severe mission capability degradation or loss of to the extent and duration that the organization is unable to perform one or more of its primary functions; or (2) major damage to organizational assets or public interests

Unauthorized release of sensitive information

at worst, a limited unauthorized release of personal, U.S. government sensitive, or commercially sensitive information to unauthorized parties resulting in a loss of confidentiality with an expected limited adverse effect on organizational operations, organizational assets, or individuals

at worst, a release of personal, U.S. government sensitive, or commercially sensitive information to unauthorized parties resulting in loss of confidentiality with an expected serious adverse effect on organizational operations, organizational assets, or individuals.

a release of personal, U.S. government sensitive, or commercially sensitive information to unauthorized parties resulting in loss of confidentiality with an expected severe or catastrophic adverse effect on organizational operations, organizational assets, or individuals

Harm to personal safety

at worst, minor injury not requiring medical treatment

at worst, moderate risk of minor injury or limited risk of injury requiring medical treatment

a risk of serious injury or death

Civil or criminal violations

at worst, a risk of civil or criminal violations of a nature that would not ordinarily be subject to enforcement efforts

at worst, a risk of civil or criminal violations that may be subject to enforcement efforts

a risk of civil or criminal violations that are of special importance to enforcement programs