In an active assessment, what is primarily utilized to discover vulnerabilities?

In an active assessment, automated tools are primarily utilized to discover vulnerabilities because they can quickly and effectively scan systems for known vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, and security weaknesses. These tools operate by simulating various attack vectors and systematically identifying areas that may be susceptible to exploitation, which allows for a more thorough and rapid vulnerability assessment compared to manual methods.

Automated tools can cover a wide range of system components and configurations efficiently, making it possible to assess larger and more complex environments within a shorter time frame. They also often come with updated vulnerability databases, enabling them to identify the latest threats effectively.

While manual reviews and employee interviews are valuable for gathering context and understanding specific processes or behaviors in an organization, they typically provide qualitative insights rather than the systematic scanning for vulnerabilities that automated tools offer. Configuration configurations, on the other hand, would refer to the settings of the IT and control systems, which can be evaluated but are part of the broader process that automated tools facilitate.