Evidence Gap

An evidence gap is missing or insufficient support for a particular claim. The gap depends on what the decision requires. It is not automatically proof that the claimed capability is absent.

No recovery record is not a failed recovery

A fictional team reports that it can restore a service, but provides no recent exercise or operational record. The assessor cannot confirm recovery from that material. If an observed exercise fails, there is instead direct evidence of a weakness under those conditions.

Both situations can prevent approval when successful recovery evidence is required.

Name the observation that would resolve it

Record the claim, available evidence, missing coverage, and who will obtain the needed observation. Distinguish not assessed, insufficient evidence, and not applicable. An inapplicable criterion needs a reason tied to scope. Collecting more documents will not resolve a gap that requires observing actual execution.

Reference: UK Government: Data Maturity Assessment Framework.