What does a vulnerability assessment evaluate?

A vulnerability assessment evaluates systems and networks for security weaknesses, making it crucial in identifying and addressing potential points of exploitation by malicious actors. This process involves a systematic examination of technology infrastructure to find vulnerabilities that could be exploited, assessing both known vulnerabilities and potential risks based on system configuration and usage.

By identifying these security weaknesses, organizations can prioritize fixes, implement necessary controls, and enhance their overall security posture. This proactive approach helps in minimizing the risk of data breaches, unauthorized access, and other security incidents, allowing companies to safeguard sensitive information and maintain compliance with regulatory standards.

The other options, while relevant to broader assessments in their respective contexts, do not pertain to the primary focus of a vulnerability assessment. Employee satisfaction levels, market trends in cybersecurity, and cost efficiency of security measures are areas of concern in human resources, business strategy, and financial planning, respectively, and do not directly relate to the technical evaluation of security vulnerabilities within systems and networks.