What distinguishes a risk from a vulnerability?

The distinction between a risk and a vulnerability is fundamental to risk management and security practices. Risks are indeed potential threats that could exploit vulnerabilities within a system, leading to negative consequences. A vulnerability, on the other hand, refers to a weakness in a system, process, application, or control that could be exploited by a threat.

Understanding this distinction is critical for effectively assessing and managing security concerns. Risk represents the possibility of loss or harm arising from a threat exploiting a vulnerability. For example, a vulnerability could be a software flaw, while the risk would be the potential for that flaw to be exploited by an attacker, resulting in data theft or service disruption.

The other options misinterpret the relationship between these concepts. They confuse the definitions or imply that risks can be mitigated with ease or have specific impacts unrelated to their fundamental definitions. Recognizing that risks involve the potential exploitation of vulnerabilities, and thus highlighting their interdependence, is crucial for effective security strategies.