Which statement best describes the role of 'Identify threats' in risk analysis?

• A. It is the first step
• B. It is the last step
• C. It is the step that follows the initial evaluation
• D. It is not required

Answer: (C)

In risk analysis, identifying threats comes after you’ve done an initial evaluation to define the system, its assets, and the operating environment. The reason this ordering matters is that you need that context to determine which threats are relevant to the assets you’re protecting. By listing plausible threat sources and events—whether they’re natural, human, or environmental—you can then move on to assess vulnerabilities and how those threats could impact the system. It’s not the first step because you wouldn’t know which threats matter without understanding what you’re defending, and it isn’t the last step because recognizing threats is essential before estimating likelihood, impact, and overall risk.