Continuity of service is the ability of a process or system to keep functioning during and after disruption, such as a cyber incident, equipment failure, or loss of connectivity. In cybersecurity, it matters because services often depend on digital systems even when their purpose is physical. For connected refrigeration, for example, monitoring or control software may support the operation of temperature-sensitive equipment.
Attackers can threaten continuity by disrupting access to control systems, interfering with monitoring, or making essential software unavailable; these are general risks, not claims about any particular incident. Defenders support continuity by mapping dependencies, limiting unnecessary access, separating networks, and preparing tested recovery procedures. In operational technology, plans should account for how the process can be monitored or safely operated if digital systems are impaired.