Severity

Overview

Severity is the framework for scoring and differentiating the different degrees of risk. We use color, words, and components to communicate severity.

Principles

Simple Risks are complicated and nuanced but categorizing them should be simple. Stick to the determined levels.

Consistent Consistency in our severity framework, like consistency in all other areas of design, helps our users confidently navigate our products. Use the same risk scoring across all products.

Accessible All users should be able to understand and assess risks, regardless of differences in ability.

Contextual Severity scores are contextual, which means risk scores can be higher or lower depending on the business and its specific account privileges. We should approach severity considering these differences.

Dynamic Severity can change once risks are mitigated. While our out-of-the-box solution for scoring is standard, we should remember that our users may have the potential and desire for customization in the future.

Demonstrating severity

Communicating severity with color

Do use the standard colors associated with each risk level — these colors have been researched and tested. Don’t use the same colors between dark theme and light theme.