Which method aims to minimize the potential for assets to be contacted by threat agents?

The focus of avoidance controls is to reduce or eliminate the risk associated with potential threats by changing the environment or circumstances around an asset. This can involve actions such as deciding not to engage in a particular activity that poses a risk or modifying practices to avoid situations that could expose assets to threat agents.

For example, a company may choose to avoid storing sensitive data in a vulnerable system, thereby minimizing the potential for that data to be targeted by attackers. By adopting avoidance controls, organizations proactively seek to eliminate scenarios where threats could materialize, rather than just reacting to them after they occur.

The other options represent different approaches to risk management, but they do not specifically focus on avoiding the potential contact with threat agents. Responsive controls typically deal with addressing incidents after they have occurred, while resistance controls are designed to withstand threats, and deterrent controls aim to dissuade potential attackers without actually preventing access.