What is a "threat assessment"?

A "threat assessment" is fundamentally about identifying and evaluating potential threats that could impact an organization. This process involves systematically analyzing various factors that might pose risks to the organization, such as physical security breaches, insider threats, cyber-attacks, natural disasters, or other scenarios that could cause harm to its assets, people, or operations.

The purpose of a threat assessment is to provide insights that enable organizations to prepare, mitigate, and respond to these threats effectively. Through this evaluation, security professionals can prioritize risks based on their likelihood and potential impact, thereby facilitating informed decision-making regarding security measures and resource allocation.

In contrast, other choices do not pertain to the specific nature of a threat assessment. Reviewing employee performance metrics focuses on evaluating individual job performance rather than potential threats. Conducting a financial analysis of the security budget deals with resource allocation and financial management, which is not directly related to threat evaluation. Assessing customer satisfaction pertains to understanding consumer preferences and experiences, again diverging from the context of identifying risks that could affect the organization.