For its security update process, how does Microsoft typically classify the severity of security threats and vulnerabilities in its software products?

Introduction / Context:
When software vendors publish security advisories, it is important for administrators and users to understand how serious each vulnerability is. Microsoft uses a standardised severity rating system to classify threats and help organisations prioritise patch deployment. Knowing how these threats are categorised helps exam candidates interpret security bulletins and make informed decisions about risk management in Windows environments.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Microsoft issues security bulletins and update guides for Windows and other products.
• Each vulnerability is analysed for potential impact, such as remote code execution or information disclosure.
• Severity ratings guide customers on how urgently they should apply patches.
• The rating names are widely documented and stable across many product versions.

Concept / Approach:
Microsoft categorises security vulnerabilities using severity levels such as Critical, Important, Moderate, and Low. A Critical vulnerability typically allows code execution without user interaction or significantly compromises system security and therefore requires prompt patching. Important vulnerabilities may allow elevation of privilege or significant data exposure. Moderate and Low vulnerabilities usually represent lower risk or require more complex attack conditions. These ratings are based on factors like exploitability, potential damage, and exposure, and they are intended to help organisations prioritise their response.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognise that Microsoft does not rely on informal labels or popularity metrics to describe security threats.Step 2: Recall that official advisories list a severity rating for each vulnerability, using terms like Critical, Important, Moderate, and Low.Step 3: Understand that these ratings are determined by an internal risk assessment that considers attack vectors and potential impact.Step 4: Administrators use these ratings to prioritise patch testing and deployment, focusing on Critical and Important updates first.Step 5: Therefore, the correct answer is that Microsoft classifies threats by severity levels such as Critical, Important, Moderate, and Low.

Verification / Alternative check:
Examining any recent Microsoft security update guide reveals a column for severity. Each entry clearly shows a rating using the standard set of labels. Additional documentation describes how these ratings relate to the Common Vulnerability Scoring System and provides guidance for customers. Security blogs and best practice guides for Windows environments routinely refer to these rating names, confirming their central role in Microsoft's classification scheme.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B claims that Microsoft only uses colours such as Red, Green, and Blue without describing impact, which is not how official bulletins work. Option C suggests that severity is based on social media likes or dislikes, which is not a meaningful or secure way to evaluate risk. Option D says ratings are random numbers with no relationship to risk, contradicting documented methodology. These alternatives do not reflect the structured severity rating system Microsoft actually uses.

Common Pitfalls:
One pitfall is assuming that Moderate or Low vulnerabilities can be ignored indefinitely. Attack techniques evolve, and seemingly minor flaws can sometimes be chained with other issues. Another mistake is treating the severity label as the only input for patch scheduling; organisations should also consider their own environment, exposure, and compensating controls. Still, understanding Microsoft's classification system is a necessary starting point for building a sensible patch management strategy.

Final Answer:
Correct answer: By assigning severity ratings such as Critical, Important, Moderate, and Low based on potential impact