ISC2 CC Security Principles Practice Question
In risk management, which term describes the probability that a threat will exploit a vulnerability and cause harm to an asset?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Risk
Risk is defined as the likelihood of a threat exploiting a vulnerability, resulting in harm to an asset.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Vulnerability
Why it's wrong here
A vulnerability is a weakness that can be exploited.
- ✗
Control
Why it's wrong here
A control is a measure that reduces risk.
- ✓
Risk
Why this is correct
Correct. Risk is the combination of threat, vulnerability, and impact.
- ✗
Threat
Why it's wrong here
A threat is the potential cause of harm, not the probability.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Risk Management and Security Controls
Key term
Likelihood
Likelihood is the estimated probability that a specific threat will exploit a vulnerability, causing harm to an IT asset or system.
Key term
Risk
Risk is the possibility that an event or action will negatively affect an organization's ability to achieve its goals, often measured in terms of likelihood and impact.
About these practice questions
This CC question is part of Courseiva's 976-question bank — original exam-style content with full explanations and wrong-answer analysis, never real exam questions or exam dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This CC practice question is part of Courseiva's free ISC2 certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the CC exam.