What is the main purpose of a "risk" or "threat" analysis?

The main purpose of conducting a "risk" or "threat" analysis is to identify assets worth protecting. This process involves recognizing and categorizing the various assets, which can include physical devices, digital information, and intangible assets like reputation or customer trust. By pinpointing which assets are most valuable or vulnerable, organizations can allocate resources more effectively and implement targeted security measures to safeguard these essential components. This foundational understanding allows for informed decision-making regarding security strategies, risk management, and prioritization of efforts to mitigate potential threats or risks to those identified assets.

While analyzing previous incidents, creating security policies, and designing security systems are all significant aspects of a comprehensive security framework, they stem from the insights gained through effective risk and threat analysis, which focuses on what needs protection in the first place.