Which term refers to the potential negative outcomes of risks associated with vulnerabilities?

The term that refers to the potential negative outcomes of risks associated with vulnerabilities is risk. In the context of information security, risk represents the likelihood of a threat exploiting a vulnerability and causing harm or loss to assets, individuals, or the organization as a whole. It encompasses both the probability of an event occurring and the impact that event would have, emphasizing the importance of understanding the relationship between vulnerabilities and the threats that could exploit them.

Risk assessment is a critical process in incident handling, as it helps organizations prioritize their security efforts and allocate resources effectively to mitigate potential negative outcomes. By recognizing vulnerabilities and assessing the associated risks, organizations can implement measures to protect their assets, ultimately reducing the likelihood of incidents.

The other terms, while related to the overall security landscape, do not specifically capture the concept of potential negative outcomes stemming from vulnerabilities. A threat refers to any circumstance or event that has the potential to cause harm, an incident is an event that compromises the integrity, confidentiality, or availability of information, and a policy is a formal set of guidelines or rules established to govern behavior and decision-making within an organization.