In security terms, what describes a potential violation of security?

In security terms, what describes a potential violation of security?

• A. Threat
• B. Vulnerability
• C. Risk
• D. Attack

Answer: (A)

A threat describes a potential violation of security. It captures the possibility that harm could occur to an information asset, caused by something like an attacker, a system flaw, or a natural event—without implying that an attack has actually happened or that a weakness will necessarily be exploited. A vulnerability is the weakness that could be exploited, but on its own it isn’t the breach itself. Risk combines how likely the threat is to exploit that vulnerability and the impact if it does. An attack is the actual act of attempting or carrying out the breach.

A threat describes a potential violation of security. It captures the possibility that harm could occur to an information asset, caused by something like an attacker, a system flaw, or a natural event—without implying that an attack has actually happened or that a weakness will necessarily be exploited.

A vulnerability is the weakness that could be exploited, but on its own it isn’t the breach itself. Risk combines how likely the threat is to exploit that vulnerability and the impact if it does. An attack is the actual act of attempting or carrying out the breach.