Causes of Harm to Information Systems

B.

A threat is an event or activity that has the potential to cause harm to the information systems.

A risk is the probability that a threat will materialize.

A vulnerability, or weakness, is a lack of a safeguard, which may be exploited by a threat, causing harm to the information systems.

Source: KRUTZ, Ronald L.

& VINES, Russel.

D., The CISSP Prep Guide: Mastering the Ten Domains of Computer Security, John Wiley & Sons, 2001, Chapter 1: Access Control Systems (page 32).

The event that could cause harm to the information systems is known as a "threat." A threat is any potential danger or negative impact on the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of information systems. It can be caused by a variety of factors, including intentional or unintentional acts, natural disasters, or other environmental factors.

A threat is different from a risk, which is the likelihood or probability that a threat will exploit a vulnerability and cause harm. A vulnerability is a weakness in a system that could be exploited by a threat, while a weakness is a flaw or limitation that reduces the system's overall security posture.

Therefore, a threat is an event or action that has the potential to cause harm to the information systems, while a vulnerability is a weakness in the system that can be exploited by the threat. Identifying and addressing threats and vulnerabilities are essential parts of maintaining the security of information systems.