IEEE 982-2024

This standard identifies, classifies, and defines measures of the software aspects of in-service dependability. As such, it provides a framework for stakeholders to understand the software aspects of dependability and to make dependability measurements throughout the system life cycle. It provides definitions, requirements, and guidance for the data collection and analysis necessary to make consistent and actionable measurements of a software system’s reliability, availability, supportability, and recoverability. This standard is applicable to any software system or service. It is particularly useful for critical systems where the reliability of their safety, security, functionality, performance, and utilization, as well as recoverability, supportability, and availability are foremost. Examples of critical systems include those supplying communications infrastructure, first responder services, energy production and distribution, real time financial transactions, medical devices, health care administrative services, defense capabilities, personal and mass transportation, environmental monitoring, and water and waste management.

The purpose of this standard is to establish guidance for measuring the software aspects of dependability as applicable to a system's operational context. It is intended for in-service measurement. It may be used during requirements, architecture, and design development; software construction and integration; and verification and validation of the software products of these activities. The overall objective is to enable stakeholders to measure dependability in software intensive systems throughout software operations and maintenance.

Revision Standard - Active. Definitions, sample requirements, equations, and guidance for data collection and analysis necessary to make consistent and actionable measurements of a software system’s reliability, availability, supportability, and recoverability are provided in this document. The dependability of software systems is collectively defined by these characteristics.