Downtime refers to periods when a website, application, or online service is unavailable or not functioning as intended. This interruption can be caused by technical failures, maintenance, cyberattacks, or unexpected incidents. Downtime can result in lost revenue, reduced productivity, and damage to an organization's reputation, especially if customers or users are unable to access essential services. Minimizing downtime is a key goal in cybersecurity and IT management, as frequent or prolonged outages can erode user trust and have significant financial impacts.