Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) Practice Exam

Quantitative risk analysis is the technique that assigns real numbers to the costs of countermeasures in risk assessment. This method relies on numerical data to forecast the potential impact of risks and to determine the financial implications of various countermeasures. By quantifying risks and the costs associated with managing them, organizations can make more informed decisions about resource allocation and risk management strategies.

Quantitative risk analysis often involves statistical methods, modeling, and calculations to establish the likelihood of risk events occurring and the potential costs associated with those events and their respective responses. This level of analysis allows for a more structured approach to justifying expenditures on countermeasures based on tangible financial metrics.

In contrast, qualitative risk analysis focuses more on the subjective assessment of risks based on their characteristics and impacts without assigning specific numerical values. Operational risk analysis typically examines risks related to operational processes rather than quantifying countermeasures. Scenario analysis assesses various potential future situations or events but does not inherently involve assigning numerical costs to countermeasures in the same structured way as quantitative risk analysis does.