 Foundation of a Risk Management Approach:Accurate inventory of IT assets is essential to identify risks, assess vulnerabilities, and prioritize mitigation strategies.

 Key Elements:

Enables understanding of the attack surface and critical assets.

Forms the basis for risk assessments and the development of controls.

 Why Not Other Options:

Adequate staffing (A): Important but secondary to identifying what to protect.

Concept-based policies (B): Necessary but not foundational for risk management.

Executive sponsor (D): Ensures buy-in but is not the operational starting point.

 EC-Council Emphasis:Asset inventory is a cornerstone of effective risk management and aligns with foundational principles in EC-Council frameworks.