Which examples are *natural* disasters that could affect IT systems?

Natural disasters are typically defined as significant events caused by natural processes of the Earth that can lead to loss of life, property damage, and disruption of services. In the context of this question, it's important to focus on events that are caused by natural phenomena rather than human actions.

The choice that includes flood, earthquake, and hurricane fits this definition perfectly. Each of these events is a direct result of natural processes such as weather patterns or geological activity. Floods can inundate IT infrastructure, earthquakes can cause physical damage to data centers, and hurricanes can lead to widespread power outages and infrastructure failures, all of which can severely impact IT systems.

In contrast, the other choices include elements that do not solely arise from natural processes. For instance, terror attacks are man-made disasters. Fires could be natural in some cases but also could result from human negligence or actions. Heavy rain and snowstorms can affect IT systems, but they may not cause the same level of widespread devastation that a hurricane does. Cyber attacks and system updates are not natural phenomena, as they involve human activity.

Thus, the identification of flood, earthquake, and hurricane as natural disasters is the reason why this choice is the best fit for the question regarding effects on IT systems.