What does Vulnerability Assessment define and classify?

Vulnerability Assessment is a systematic process that identifies, quantifies, and classifies vulnerabilities in a system. Its primary focus is on security vulnerabilities, which are weaknesses or flaws that could be exploited by threats to gain unauthorized access to or perform unauthorized actions on a system. By assessing these vulnerabilities, organizations can understand their security posture, prioritize risks, and implement appropriate mitigations.

The term "security vulnerabilities" specifically pertains to the weaknesses within the infrastructure, applications, or operational procedures that can lead to potential security breaches. This is critical for developing a comprehensive security strategy and ensuring that protective measures are effectively implemented where they are most needed.

In contrast, the concepts of security breaches, security controls, and organizational risk represent different areas of cybersecurity considerations. Security breaches refer to incidents where vulnerabilities are exploited, security controls are the measures implemented to mitigate vulnerabilities, and organizational risk involves the overall risk landscape that an organization faces, which includes but is not limited to vulnerabilities. The distinction is important, as the assessment itself zeroes in on identifying these specific vulnerabilities to enhance the security framework.