What does the term "social engineering" refer to in security?

The term "social engineering" specifically refers to the manipulation of individuals to coax or deceive them into divulging confidential or sensitive information. This can take many forms, such as phishing emails, phone calls pretending to be legitimate sources, or even in-person interactions designed to gain trust. The essence of social engineering lies in exploiting human psychology rather than relying solely on technological exploits, making the human element a critical component of security vulnerabilities. Understanding this concept is crucial for developing effective security awareness and training programs that educate individuals on recognizing and resisting such manipulative tactics.

The other choices relate to various aspects of security management, such as technological implementations or procedure creation, but do not encapsulate the fundamental nature of social engineering as it pertains to the psychological manipulation of individuals.