What type of vulnerability assessment technique uses automated network scanning tools without employing exploit tools?

The correct answer focuses on the nature of the techniques used in vulnerability assessments, specifically highlighting the use of automated network scanning tools without deploying exploit tools. Active assessment involves direct interaction with the target system to identify vulnerabilities through network scanning and probing techniques, which can actively engage the systems being tested.

This method enables the assessment to gather information about vulnerabilities by sending queries to devices and analyzing the responses. The use of automated tools streamlines this process, allowing evaluators to efficiently identify potential security weaknesses in a system's architecture, configurations, or software.

In contrast, the other assessment types differ primarily in their approach and interaction with the system. For instance, passive assessments generally do not actively engage the system in the same way; they gather data without sending any probing signals, making them less comprehensive in identifying vulnerabilities compared to active assessments. Exploit assessments, on the other hand, involve attempting to exploit identified vulnerabilities, which is not the focus of the technique in question. Comprehensive assessments encompass a variety of techniques and methodologies, rather than honing in specifically on automated scanning tools.

Understanding these distinctions is crucial for grasping how vulnerability assessments operate within the context of cybersecurity frameworks such as ISA/IEC 62443.