ISC2 CISSP Practice Question

An Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) is characterized by high-intensity electromagnetic energy that can damage electronic equipment by inducing current surges in circuitry. EMPs are primarily caused by man-made sources such as nuclear detonations at high altitudes or specialized EMP-generating devices, though some natural phenomena like severe solar flares (coronal mass ejections) can create similar effects known as geomagnetic disturbances.

EMPs pose a significant risk to electronic infrastructure as they can permanently damage electronic components, erase stored data, and render systems inoperable across wide geographic areas without making physical contact with the equipment. Organizations implement protective measures such as Faraday cages, EMP-hardened equipment, or electromagnetic shielding as countermeasures against this environmental threat.

A fire requires physical proximity to damage equipment through heat and combustion. Floods damage equipment through direct water contact. A lightning strike primarily affects localized areas through direct strikes or ground current, rather than affecting wide geographic areas simultaneously through atmospheric propagation.