Dependability through Assuredness™ (O-DA) Framework

Dependability through Assuredness™ (O-DA) Framework

The O-DA standard defines a Framework and guidance for developing an Assured and/or Dependable Architecture. The Framework provides Architects with a conceptual model.

O-DA Overview

Dependency of our daily life on software  systems is growing for the purpose of convenience, efficiency, and security. Most computer systems are used for long periods of time and are being constantly improved in service objectives and users’ requirements under evolving technologies and changing regulations / standards. These systems   have become  extremely complex. Dependability of  these software  systems cannot be achieved solely by using conventional technologies, such as software processes  and/or Formal Methods.  These systems require something more.

To achieve Dependability in such large and complex systems, this standard introduces the notion of Assuredness. Assuredness is the state for which the Stakeholders of a  system have a consensus that confirms that a satisfactory degree of Evidence is provided to ensure that an implementation of an Architecture has met the requirements specified to be Assured. Each Stakeholder can then be accountable to that consensus.

Such Assuredness does not necessarily ensure full Dependability of a system, but it may yield insights to improvements to the Dependability of a system. An Architect may use tools such as the Dependability Engineering for Open Systems (DEOS) Framework (described in Appendix (B) which adds in a runtime environment to capture information necessary to post-analyze system failures to help make the Architecture more Dependable in the future.