What distinguishes active assessments from passive assessments?

Active assessments are characterized by a higher level of interaction with systems compared to passive assessments. In an active assessment, testers engage directly with the system, often conducting hands-on testing to identify vulnerabilities. This may involve simulation of attacks, the use of penetration testing techniques, or executing scripts that interact with the application or system in real-time.

This direct interaction allows assessors to observe the system's responses and behaviors, providing a deeper understanding of the security posture and potential weaknesses. Moreover, because the assessment is active, it can uncover issues that might not be apparent through observation alone, such as misconfigurations or vulnerabilities that require specific conditions to be triggered.

On the other hand, passive assessments do not involve direct interaction with the systems; instead, they rely on monitoring network traffic or analyzing logs to gather information. This results in a less intrusive evaluation approach, but might not reveal certain types of vulnerabilities that can only be detected through active engagement.

Thus, the fundamental distinction between these two types of assessments lies in how they interact with systems, making the emphasis on the level of interaction precisely what sets active assessments apart.