Annualised loss expectancy (ALE) definition
A measure for quantifying the expected loss on an asset from risk in one year
What is annual loss expectancy?
ALE provides the value of potential loss within a one-year period using the single loss expectancy (SLE) and the annualised rate of occurrence (ARO). It is calculated by multiplying the SLE and ARO, or:
ALE = SLE x ARO
The single loss expectancy represents the potential loss from the appearance of a single risk. SLE is also recorded as monetary value. The annualised rate of occurrence states the probability that a specific risk will appear in a given year. ARO can be thought of as the number of times a risk, or event, may happen in one year.
Annualised loss expectancy meaning (ALE)
ALE is used in the risk-management process because it provides a monetary value of an expected loss. Calculating the ALE enables businesses to plan for potential loss and create and implement adequate strategies.
Knowing the value of a potential loss on an asset is beneficial in the cost-benefit analysis. A company’s management can decide whether or not it is worth spending money to reduce or eliminate the accompanying losses.
For instance, the annualised expectancy loss from a threat occurring is $3,000. The cost of performing the necessary actions needed to limit the exposure to this risk may be $5,000. Hence, it would be cheaper for the business not to undertake activities to reduce the expected loss.
Conversely, when the analysis shows that the benefit outweighs the expected loss, steps could be undertaken to remove the threat.
Disadvantages of ALE as a risk measure
While ALE has its advantages for measuring and assessing the expected loss, it comes with certain drawbacks as well. These drawbacks are specific to quantitative risk measurement methods in general.
First and foremost, these measures are stated in monetary value. Hence, some values assigned to a risk could be subject to personal opinion or based on personal experience.
The process for calculating the risk could also be time-consuming if performed without the aid of software. Additionally, there could be a lack of standards about the implementation of quantitative methods.
It can be argued that the disadvantages of quantitative measures can be addressed when they are simultaneously used with qualitative methods for risk management.
Even though ALE, as a quantitative measure, has some drawbacks, it is used by managers because it is easy to understand and can make risk-management decisions less complicated because of the cost-benefit analysis.
