What type of risk does vulnerability assessment aim to identify?

Vulnerability assessments are comprehensive processes that systematically evaluate an organization's systems, applications, and networks to identify and quantify vulnerabilities. The primary goal of these assessments is to uncover weaknesses that could be exploited by threats, which in turn might lead to various risks.

When we consider the types of risks that could arise from identified vulnerabilities, it's clear that a vulnerability assessment can reveal technical risks, which relate to software and hardware flaws, as well as operational risks, which encompass the risks associated with people, processes, or procedures in the daily operation of information systems. Additionally, vulnerabilities can have strategic implications, affecting an organization's overall goals and missions based on how effectively they manage their security posture and the risks associated with it.

By proactively identifying vulnerabilities and understanding the different risk aspects they can affect, organizations can implement appropriate measures to mitigate these risks, ensuring a more secure information systems environment. Hence, a vulnerability assessment plays a critical role in revealing all types of risks, not limiting itself to just one category, thereby making the assessment a holistic approach to risk management.