Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) CybersecurityNetwork SecurityMedium
A large enterprise is implementing a new security policy that mandates automated vulnerability scanning of all network devices and servers on a quarterly basis. The goal is to proactively identify security weaknesses and misconfigurations before they can be exploited. Which security technology is designed to perform this task?
- AVulnerability Scanner
- BNetwork Access Control (NAC)
- CSecurity Information and Event Management (SIEM)
- DData Loss Prevention (DLP)
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. Vulnerability Scanner
A vulnerability scanner is specifically designed to automate the process of identifying security weaknesses, misconfigurations, and known vulnerabilities in systems, applications, and network devices. This directly matches the requirement for proactive identification of weaknesses.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. NAC controls who can access the network based on policy, not for scanning vulnerabilities of existing devices.
- C. SIEM aggregates and analyzes security logs and events for real-time monitoring and incident response, not proactive vulnerability identification.
- D. DLP focuses on preventing sensitive data from leaving the organization, not on scanning for system vulnerabilities.
Vulnerability Scanner
A vulnerability scanner is a software tool used to identify security weaknesses in systems, networks, and applications by testing against known vulnerabilities.
- Automates vulnerability detection
- Identifies misconfigurations and missing patches
- Provides reports on security posture
Memory trick: A scanner 'scans' for security holes.