Cascading

The term Cascading refers to a sequence in which one failure, event, compromise, or change triggers additional downstream failures or effects across connected systems or processes. It gives election, security, legal, or technical readers a specific label for the concept rather than a broader everyday meaning.

In practice, Cascading is applied to the technical or security purpose captured by its definition: a sequence in which one failure, event, compromise, or change triggers additional downstream failures or effects across connected systems or processes. Organizations combine that function with documented procedures, authorized access, testing, monitoring, and controls appropriate to the system.

Understanding Cascading matters because the concept can affect security, reliability, auditability, or trusted operation. In this glossary context, it refers to a sequence in which one failure, event, compromise, or change triggers additional downstream failures or effects across connected systems or processes.