What is the primary purpose of risk management in information security?

The primary purpose of risk management in information security is to identify, assess, and mitigate risks to organizational assets. This process is essential because it enables organizations to understand the vulnerabilities and threats they face, evaluate the potential impact of those risks, and implement appropriate controls to reduce exposure to acceptable levels.

Risk management is a proactive approach that encompasses the identification of sensitive assets, assessing their importance, and then determining the level of risk associated with each asset. By systematically addressing risks, organizations can prioritize their resources and efforts towards the most critical areas, ensuring that they maintain the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of their information systems.

While establishing a security policy and ensuring compliance with regulations are important aspects of an organization's overall security framework, they are not the primary goals of risk management. Additionally, the idea of eliminating all potential threats is not feasible in practice, as it is impossible to completely eradicate all risks. Instead, risk management focuses on balancing risk and business objectives, making informed decisions about how to handle threats.