Which term refers to a flaw that could lead to a complete system failure?

The appropriate term that describes a flaw which could cause a complete system failure is "Single Point of Failure" (SPOF). This concept refers to any individual component within a system that, if it fails, results in the failure of the entire system. Recognizing and addressing SPOFs is crucial in system design and architecture to ensure higher availability and reliability.

For example, if a network relies solely on one server to handle all requests, and that server fails, the entire network becomes unavailable. Identifying and mitigating SPOFs often involves implementing redundancy, where backup systems are put in place to take over in case the primary system fails.

The other terms have distinct meanings that do not directly align with the concept of a flaw leading to a complete system failure. Fault isolation relates to identifying and separating failed components to prevent them from affecting others. Redundancy pertains to the inclusion of extra components that can take over in case of failure, thereby reducing the chance of SPOFs. Load distribution involves spreading workloads across multiple resources to enhance performance and efficiency, rather than addressing the issue of failure.