What is threat assessment and how do we apply it to protect information and information systems?
Threat assessment is a process of formally evaluating the degree of threat to an information and information system or to an enterprise and describing the nature of threats and threat landscape. It is the practice of evaluating and determining the credibility and seriousness of a potential security threat to an information and information system. Moreover, it is process of determining the probability or likelihood that the security threat will occur or not based on information from different sources. In other words, it is the process of evaluating and verifying perceived and real threats to information systems.
Threat assessment is an evaluation of events that can adversely affect business operations and organizational assets. The process of threat assessment begins with the initial assessment of asset-threat pairing for all organizational assets. In addition, it will incorporate review of the severity of the threats to each assets and will require the creation of plans to deal with the threats and vulnerabilities as per a priority list. Besides, it considers actual threats, inherent threats and potential threats to an organization.
A security threat assessment is the evaluation and assessment of the intentions of people who could pose a harm to an organization, how they might the harm, and their ability and motivation to conduct the security threats. And it will include understanding of the nature of the security threats, identify the source of the threats like whether they are man-made or natural threats. And it should be performed as a team effort to provide a range of insights and perspectives.