In network security assessments, which type of test is used to evaluate the risk posed by vulnerabilities to a specific organization including assessment of the likelihood of attacks and the impact of successful exploits on the organization?

In network security assessments, the type of test used to evaluate the risk posed by vulnerabilities to a specific organization, including assessment of the likelihood of attacks and the impact of successful exploits on the organization, is:

Risk Analysis

Risk analysis in the context of network security involves evaluating vulnerabilities, considering potential threats, and examining how these vulnerabilities could be exploited. It assesses the likelihood of these events occurring and the potential impact on the organization, which helps in prioritizing remediation efforts based on the level of risk. It combines both the qualitative and quantitative assessment of risk, encompassing the broader context of the organization’s security posture.

Here’s a brief explanation of the other terms:

• Vulnerability Assessment: This is a process that identifies and quantifies security vulnerabilities in a system. It is a comprehensive evaluation of security weaknesses but typically does not include an in-depth risk analysis of the impact and likelihood of exploitation.
• Port Scanning: This is a technique used to discover open ports on a networked system. It’s a way to identify potentially vulnerable points on a target machine but does not, on its own, assess the risk to the organization.
• Penetration Testing: Often referred to as a pen test, this is a simulated cyber attack against a computer system to check for exploitable vulnerabilities. Pen testing involves an active analysis of the system for any potential vulnerabilities that could result from poor or improper system configuration, known and unknown hardware or software flaws, or operational weaknesses in process or technical countermeasures. While it can inform risk analysis, it is not a risk analysis itself.