Which term refers to a potential cause of an unwanted incident?

The term that refers to a potential cause of an unwanted incident is a threat. In the context of cybersecurity, a threat represents any circumstance or event with the potential to harm an information system, compromise data integrity, or bring about a breach of security. This includes malicious acts, such as hacking or malware, as well as natural disasters, human errors, or even system failures. Understanding threats is crucial in cybersecurity because it allows organizations to identify what could potentially harm their systems and take preventive measures.

On the other hand, vulnerabilities refer to weaknesses within a system that could be exploited by a threat, assets are valuable data or resources that must be protected, and a risk management strategy encompasses the approaches and practices employed to mitigate or manage risks associated with identified threats and vulnerabilities. Thus, the identification of threats is a foundational step in forming a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy.