Safety Incident Taxonomy
Definition
Incident classification assigns security events according to a common category system.
A versioned category system for consistent classification of security-relevant incidents by event type, cause, damage impact, affected actors, and severity. Taxonomies depend on organization and purpose and may require multiple assignments.
Simply explained
An incident receives appropriate labels, for example for cause, damage, and severity.
Why it matters in practice
The term supports companies in selecting technologies sensibly, anchoring them organizationally, and using them competently.
Example from business
An incident is classified by data leak, misjudgment, misuse, affected persons, and severity level.
Limits and pitfalls
- Publishing a taxonomy as a universal standard, defining overlapping categories without coding rules, or mixing event, cause, vulnerability, and impact in one dimension.
Origin & history
Incident taxonomies originate from occupational safety, aviation, and cybersecurity and are applied to AI incidents.
Use in mid-sized companies
- Possible application: An incident is classified by data leak, misjudgment, misuse, affected persons, and severity level.
Frequently asked questions
What does classification of security incidents mean?
A versioned category system for consistent classification of security-relevant incidents by event type, cause, damage impact, affected actors, and severity. Taxonomies depend on organization and purpose and may require multiple assignments. What mistakes should be avoided? Publishing a taxonomy as a universal standard, defining overlapping categories without coding rules, or mixing event, cause, vulnerability, and impact in one dimension.
Sources
Source checked on 10.10.2026. Editorial application examples are hypothetical; no evidence of real customer results.
Editorially reviewed on: