A security engineer is performing a business impact assessment (BIA) for an organization. Where should the security engineer begin?

Starting a business impact assessment (BIA) with an inventory is fundamental because it lays the groundwork for understanding the organization's assets and their significance. The inventory includes all critical resources such as information systems, applications, hardware, personnel, and even processes that are vital to the organization's operations.

By cataloging these assets, the security engineer can identify which components are essential to business functions and how disruptions might impact them. This initial step helps to prioritize which areas need further analysis and what potential impact disruptions could have on the organization. A comprehensive inventory serves as a reference point for developing strategies to protect these assets and ensures that subsequent steps in the BIA process are informed and targeted.

Without a detailed inventory, it becomes challenging to accurately assess risks, define preventative measures, or develop effective contingency strategies, as there would be a lack of visibility into the organization's critical assets and their dependencies.