Which of the following is a primary reason cybersecurity has become increasingly critical for modern businesses?

### Why this is right - **A** is correct because businesses hold personal, financial, profile, and intellectual-property data. - **B** is correct because attacks can cause downtime and business loss. - **C** is correct because compliance and customer trust are stated reasons for investing in cybersecurity. ### The concept Cybersecurity supports business activity by reducing exposure of sensitive information, limiting disruption, helping organizations meet regulations, and supporting customer relationships. It can also contribute to competitive advantage by allowing businesses to focus on core competencies. It does not remove the need for managers to understand and assess risk. ### The other options - **D. Removing the need for management to assess risk**: The material says managers must understand threats and assess their consequences; cybersecurity does not eliminate that responsibility. ### Terms - **Intellectual property**: Creations or knowledge owned by an organization, such as proprietary business information. - **Regulatory compliance**: Meeting applicable legal or regulatory requirements. ### Remember Cybersecurity protects information, operations, compliance, and business relationships.