Primary definition
Estimate of the effort or time needed by a potential perpetrator, with specified expertise and resources, to overcome a protective measure.
Also known aseffort estimation · security strength · computational cost
3 sources cited4 related termsReviewed Aug 10, 2026
— Committee on National Security Systems Glossary CNSSI 4009-2015View source
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CNSSGC
Estimate of the effort or time needed by a potential perpetrator, with specified expertise and resources, to overcome a protective measure.
Committee on National Security Systems Glossary CNSSI 4009-2015 · 2024
Cite this term
Permanent URL · stable across revisions
Election Security Glossary. (2026). Work Factor. In Election Security Glossary. Retrieved August 20, 2026, from https://electionsecurityglossary.com/glossary/work-factor
Sources
3 cited · last checked Aug 10, 2026
01
Committee on National Security Systems Glossary CNSSI 4009-2015
Committee on National Security Systems Glossary CNSSI 4009-2015
High consensus
02
NICCS Glossary
NICCS Glossary
Multi-source
03
The Cyber Glossary
The Cyber Glossary
Multi-source
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