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 incident handling and cybersecurity, risk encompasses the possibility of a negative event (such as a data breach or system compromise) occurring due to identified vulnerabilities within systems. It is an assessment of the likelihood and impact of such events, highlighting the potential consequences if a threat exploits a vulnerability.

Understanding this concept is crucial for incident handlers, as it helps in prioritizing which vulnerabilities to address based on their associated risks. Organizations use risk assessments to implement appropriate controls and mitigation strategies to protect their assets from potential threats.

The other terms listed have distinct meanings within cybersecurity. A threat refers to a potential cause of an unwanted incident, which may exploit a vulnerability, while an incident denotes a specific event that actually occurs causing harm or disruption. Policy typically refers to established guidelines or rules intended to govern behavior and decision-making in an organization, rather than directly indicating outcomes related to vulnerabilities.