The threat modelling approach addresses data loss risk, hardware failure risk, jurisdictional risk, external hacker risk, dishonest employee risk, and employee death or disability risk.

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The European sites of Amazon.com temporarily went offline Sunday because of a hardware failure, according to The Associated Press, not a cyber attack by WikiLeaks supporters Anonymous.

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Earlier this week, Consumer Reports called the issue a hardware failure-disputing the company's prior claim that it was simply a software bug-and said it would not recommend the product for purchase.

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Also likely in 1999: drives that use predictive failure analysis to warn you of hardware problems that could hasten a crash.

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But it does mean that we should be looking a little askance at those claiming that sluggish hardware sales are as a result of a Windows 8 failure.

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The WarpDrive card also helps to minimize hardware requirements, reducing initial investment costs and eliminating points of failure for greater overall system reliability.

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Failure in the retail space is not new territory for hardware makers.

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In a written statement, NASA said failure is "part of the development process for any complex spaceflight hardware, " and designers will learn from whatever caused Thursday's crash.

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This experience has led me to believe that one of the best ways to protect the financial system against future systemic shocks, including the possible failure of a major counterparty, is by strengthening the financial infrastructure, including both the "hardware" and the "software" components.

FORBES: Transcript