Who decides what constitutes an acceptable level of risk for an organization's assets?

The determination of what constitutes an acceptable level of risk for an organization's assets primarily falls to the asset owner. This individual has the most comprehensive understanding of the asset's value, its vulnerabilities, and the potential impacts of various threats. The asset owner is responsible for ensuring that the asset is protected adequately while balancing the costs of security with the asset's importance to the organization. By weighing these factors, the asset owner can establish a risk tolerance that aligns with the organization’s overall mission and objectives.

While program managers, security chiefs, and security auditors may have roles that involve risk assessment and management, their focus is typically more about implementing strategies and compliance rather than setting the risk thresholds. The program manager might oversee projects and ensure they align with risk management practices, but they do not specifically decide on risk levels for individual assets. The chief of security manages security operations and policies but similarly does not hold the authority to set risk levels for assets. Security auditors evaluate compliance and risks but also do not establish what is acceptable; they provide insights regarding risk management practices and compliance.

Thus, the asset owner's role is crucial in defining and deciding the acceptable risk for their assets, making it the correct choice in this context.