When people talk about “cyber risks,” the same words keep coming up: phishing, ransomware, vulnerabilities, malware.
But here’s the uncomfortable truth:
👉 None of those are risks.
They’re pieces of the puzzle, yes—but not the full picture. And if we confuse them for risks, our entire approach to cybersecurity becomes vague, shallow, and ineffective.
So, What Exactly Is Risk?
At its simplest, risk is a future event that might happen.
It has two dimensions:
- Likelihood → the chance it happens
- Impact → the consequence if it does
That’s why the formula works:
Risk = Likelihood × Impact
This is not theory—it’s practical. It forces us to ask two critical questions every time:
- What’s the probability of this happening?
- If it happens, how bad will it hurt us?
Why “Phishing” Isn’t a Risk
Let’s test this with an example.
Is phishing a risk?
- Likelihood of phishing? Well… depends. Who’s being targeted? Which department? What defenses do we have?
- Impact of phishing? It could be anything—from a single email account compromise to a company-wide data breach.
Too broad. Too vague. Not measurable.
👉 That’s why phishing itself is not a risk.
Phishing is an attack method, also called an attack vector. It’s part of the story, not the risk itself.
The Anatomy of a Real Risk Scenario
A true risk scenario is structured. It connects four building blocks:
- Threat – who or what is acting (cybercriminal, insider, state actor).
- Method – how they act (phishing, exploiting a vulnerability, social engineering).
- Asset – what they’re targeting (HR data, intellectual property, financial systems).
- Impact – the consequence (extortion, fines, lost revenue, reputational damage).
When you tie them together, suddenly you get something you can actually measure, analyze, and prepare for.
Example 1
Cybercriminals use phishing on HR employees → gain access to confidential employee data → extort the company → reputational and financial damage.
Example 2
State-sponsored actors exploit a vulnerable web app → steal intellectual property → cause long-term revenue loss, regulatory fines, and brand damage.
Now we’re talking about real risks. Specific. Actionable. Manageable.
Why This Matters
If we label “phishing” or “ransomware” as risks, we stay at surface level.
But when we define risk scenarios, we unlock clarity:
- We can calculate likelihood.
- We can quantify impact.
- We can prioritize what matters most.
That’s the difference between guessing and managing.
The KickHackerz Takeaway
At KickHackerz, we don’t chase buzzwords. We cut through noise.
We frame cybersecurity in terms of real risks—threats, methods, assets, and impacts—so businesses can see their exposures clearly and act decisively.
Because in today’s threat landscape, clarity is the strongest defense.
💡 Next time you hear “Phishing is a risk,” pause. Ask:
What’s the scenario? Who’s the threat, what’s the method, which asset, and what impact?
That’s where real cybersecurity risk management begins.
