What is the primary goal of risk management in cybersecurity?

The primary goal of risk management in cybersecurity is to minimize the potential impact of threats. This involves identifying, assessing, and prioritizing risks followed by coordinated efforts to mitigate, monitor, and control the probability or impact of unfortunate events. By focusing on minimizing the effects of threats, organizations can better protect their assets, maintain operational integrity, and ensure that they can continue to function despite potential adverse incidents.

While eliminating all technology-related risks is an admirable goal, it is often impractical given the ever-evolving nature of cyber threats and the complexities of technology. Compliance with regulations is important but serves as a subset of the broader risk management strategy, ensuring that organizations adhere to legal and regulatory requirements while still focusing on risk. Monitoring employee behavior may help in identifying potential internal threats, but it does not address the comprehensive approach needed to manage risks effectively across the entire organization. Hence, the focus should be on minimizing the impact of threats to maintain security and operational continuity.