What is the main purpose of conducting a vulnerability assessment?

Conducting a vulnerability assessment primarily serves to identify and prioritize vulnerabilities in systems. This process involves scanning and evaluating systems, applications, and networks to discover potential weaknesses that could be exploited by attackers. By identifying these vulnerabilities, organizations can gain a clearer understanding of their security posture and take informed steps to mitigate risks.

Furthermore, vulnerability assessments help prioritize the identified vulnerabilities based on factors such as severity, potential impact, and exploitability. This systematic approach enables organizations to allocate resources effectively and address the most critical issues first, thereby enhancing overall security.

Options involving employee training or immediate threat elimination do not align with the specific goals of a vulnerability assessment, as these activities serve different functions in the broader context of cybersecurity. Similarly, while improving network speed and performance is important, it is not a direct objective of conducting a vulnerability assessment. The focus remains primarily on identifying and prioritizing security weaknesses to improve defenses.