Which of the following could be BEST defined as the likelihood of a threat agent taking advantage of a vulnerability?
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A. B. C. D.A.
Risk is the likelihood of a threat agent taking advantage of a vulnerability and the corresponding business impact.
If a firewall has several ports open , there is a higher likelihood that an intruder will use one to access the network in an unauthorized method.
The following answers are incorrect : Residual Risk is very different from the notion of total risk.Residual Risk would be the risks that still exists after countermeasures have been implemented.Total risk is the amount of risk a company faces if it chooses not to implement any type of safeguard.
Exposure: An exposure is an instance of being exposed to losses from a threat agent.
Countermeasure: A countermeasure or a safeguard is put in place to mitigate the potential risk.
Examples of countermeasures include strong password management , a security guard.
REFERENCES : SHON HARRIS ALL IN ONE 3rd EDITION Chapter - 3: Security Management Practices , Pages : 57-59
The correct answer is A. A risk.
Risk can be defined as the potential for loss, damage, or harm resulting from the interaction between a threat, a vulnerability, and an asset. In the context of security, a vulnerability is a weakness or flaw in a system that can be exploited by a threat agent, such as a hacker or a malicious insider. The likelihood of a threat agent taking advantage of a vulnerability is an important component of risk assessment, which is the process of identifying, analyzing, and evaluating potential risks to an organization's assets.
A residual risk (answer B) is the risk that remains after countermeasures have been implemented to mitigate a risk. Residual risk is important to consider because it indicates the level of risk that an organization is willing to accept even after applying controls.
An exposure (answer C) is a condition or situation that can lead to loss or damage to an asset. An exposure is not necessarily related to a vulnerability or a threat, although it may be. For example, leaving a door unlocked is an exposure that could lead to theft, but it is not a vulnerability that can be exploited by a threat agent.
A countermeasure (answer D) is a control or mitigation technique that is put in place to reduce or eliminate a vulnerability. Countermeasures can include technical controls, such as firewalls and intrusion detection systems, as well as administrative controls, such as policies and procedures. While countermeasures can help reduce the likelihood of a threat agent taking advantage of a vulnerability, they do not define the likelihood itself.