The danger, harm or loss related to the use of, or dependence on, information and communications technology, electronic data, and digital or electronic communications is best described as which risk?

• A. Environmental risk
• B. Consequence
• C. Cyber and information security risk
• D. Credit risk

Answer: (C)

The situation described is about the danger and potential harm that come from using or relying on information and communications technology, electronic data, and digital communications. That focus is exactly what cyber and information security risk covers. It includes threats that can compromise confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data and systems, such as hacking, malware, data breaches, outages, and privacy violations. When organizations depend on digital tools and data, they face these kinds of risks because a breach or disruption can lead to financial loss, reputational damage, regulatory penalties, and operational downtime.

Environmental risk isn’t about digital systems; it relates to physical surroundings or ecological factors. Consequence refers to the outcome or result of a risk, not the type of risk itself. Credit risk is about the possibility that a borrower won’t repay a loan or meet obligations, unrelated to ICT usage. So the best fit for the described danger is cyber and information security risk, which directly addresses the risks tied to information technology, data, and digital communications.