Fail- types 2

Question 1

What is Fail-close?

Answer 1

A failure mode that prioritizes security by completely blocking traffic or access when a system fails — nothing gets through, even if it means taking the service offline.

Question 2

What is Fail-soft?

Answer 2

Tries to keep partial functionality going during failure, often sacrificing performance — not strictly focused on security.

Question 3

What is Fail-through?

Answer 3

A failure mode where a system continues operating despite partial failure, ensuring ongoing availability, even if performance or accuracy is degraded.

Common in DNS, load balancers, or routing systems.

Question 4

What is Fail-open?

Answer 4

A failure mode that disables security restrictions (like firewalls or intrusion prevention systems) to maintain service availability, allowing all traffic through — risky from a security standpoint.

Question 5

What is Fail-safe?

Answer 5

Prioritizes safety (for people/equipment), not necessarily security — behavior depends on the context.