Dependency risk materializes when critical dependencies fail, whether single suppliers, key personnel, legacy systems, or external services. High concentration in dependencies amplifies vulnerability to disruptions. Mitigation strategies include diversification, redundancy, cross-training, and succession planning. Mapping dependencies is essential for business continuity and resilience planning. For example, a manufacturer dependent on a single chip supplier for a proprietary component faces severe dependency risk, as evidenced when a 2021 fire at that supplier's plant halted production lines for months.