incident

In the context of service management and IT operations, an “incident” refers to an unplanned interruption or reduction in the quality of an IT service. It can also include the failure of a component that has not yet impacted service, but is likely to do so. The primary goal in incident management is to restore normal service operation as quickly as possible while minimizing the impact on the business and ensuring that agreed-upon service levels are met. Incidents may arise from various sources, such as human error, equipment failure, or external events, and they require a structured approach to identify, investigate, and resolve them efficiently.