What is a Single Point of Failure(SPOF)?

A single point of failure (SPOF) refers to a component in a system, such as a device, software, or process, that, if it fails, can cause the entire system to fail. In other words, the failure of this single component has the potential to disrupt the entire system’s operation. The presence of a single point of failure can make a system vulnerable and decrease its overall reliability.

Systems requiring high availability and reliability, like supply chains, networks, and software applications, find single points of failure undesirable. To make the system more reliable and robust we need to remove single point of failures from it

Reliability in System Design

The reliability of a device is considered high if it has repeatedly performed its function with success and low if it has tended to fail in repeated trials. The reliability of a system is defined as the probability of performing the intended function over a given period under specified operating conditions.