Cisco Cyber Security Practice Exam

What type of risk analysis is performed when evaluating historical breaches and existing threats?

1. Quantitative

2. Qualitative

3. Comparative

4. Financial

The correct answer is: Qualitative

The correct answer reflects a qualitative risk analysis, which focuses on understanding and assessing risks by evaluating non-numeric factors such as historical breaches, existing threats, and the context in which these events occurred. Qualitative risk analysis emphasizes the subjective assessments of risks and is often used to identify patterns, trends, and the potential impact of various threats based on previous experiences and informed judgment. This type of analysis is particularly valuable when there are limited data points or when the potential consequences of risks cannot easily be quantified. By examining case studies, expert opinions, and organizational conditions, qualitative analysis helps in identifying vulnerabilities and helps organizations understand their risk environment more effectively. In contrast, quantitative analysis involves numerical assessment and statistical methods to evaluate risks, which isn't the approach used when focusing solely on historical breaches and threats. Comparative analysis would involve comparing different risks or breaches but isn’t specifically focused on evaluating the historical context alone, and financial analysis would examine risks in terms of their monetary impacts, which doesn’t align with assessing past breaches directly.