Identifying Potential Harmful Events or Activities

D.

Source: KRUTZ, Ronald L.

& VINES, Russel.

D., The CISSP Prep Guide: Mastering the Ten Domains of Computer Security, 2001, John Wiley & Sons, Pages 16, 32.

The correct answer is D. Threat.

In the field of cybersecurity, a threat is an event or activity that has the potential to cause harm to information systems or networks. A threat can come from a variety of sources, including human beings (such as hackers or insiders), natural disasters (such as floods or fires), or technological failures (such as power outages or software bugs).

A threat can be classified as either intentional or unintentional. Intentional threats are those that are caused by a malicious actor, such as a hacker or cybercriminal, who is actively trying to cause harm to the system or network. Unintentional threats, on the other hand, are those that are caused by accidents or errors, such as a user accidentally deleting an important file or a power outage that causes a system to crash.

It's important for security administrators to understand and identify different types of threats so that they can develop effective strategies to mitigate them. This might include implementing security controls such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems, or antivirus software, as well as conducting regular security assessments and training users to be aware of potential threats.

Other terms listed as answer choices are related to the concept of a threat. A vulnerability is a weakness in a system or network that could potentially be exploited by a threat actor. A threat agent is a person or entity that carries out a threat. A weakness can refer to either a vulnerability or a lack of security controls that could make a system or network more susceptible to threats.