Remember ALE
Full name: Annualized Loss Expectancy
Memory aid: Annual Loss adds the expected year's events.
ALE is an estimate, not a guaranteed yearly loss.
Study area: MIS, risk & continuity · Batch 3
Relevant study for: CompTIA Security+ SY0-701 · ISC2 CISSP 2024 outline · CompTIA SecurityX · ISC2 CC
Practice with exam flashcards →MIS, Risk & Continuity / Knowledge library
ALE — Annualized Loss Expectancy
Estimates annual loss as SLE times annualized rate of occurrence.
Why learn ALE — Annualized Loss Expectancy?
Estimates annual loss as SLE times annualized rate of occurrence.
Where it came from
ALE is an estimate, not a guaranteed yearly loss.
- Memory aid (a learning cue, not the expansion): Annual Loss adds the expected year's events.
Build your understanding
Work through these exercises in order. Try the task before opening a reference.
- Without looking, expand ALE: Annualized Loss Expectancy.
- Recall this memory aid: Annual Loss adds the expected year's events.
- Explain the practical use: Estimates annual loss as SLE times annualized rate of occurrence.
- Explain this distinction: ALE is an estimate, not a guaranteed yearly loss.
- Identify ALE in a device specification, architecture diagram, or system inventory.
Documentation and sources
- NIST cybersecurity glossary (csrc.nist.gov)