CompTIA CySA+ Practice Test

What method can be used to identify potential vulnerabilities in systems over time?

1. Manual configuration audits

2. Running scheduled vulnerability scans

3. Random file integrity checks

4. Utilizing performance benchmarks

The correct answer is: Running scheduled vulnerability scans

Running scheduled vulnerability scans is an effective method for identifying potential vulnerabilities in systems over time. This approach allows for the consistent and automated assessment of systems, which can uncover new vulnerabilities as they are discovered or as software and systems are updated. By scheduling these scans regularly, organizations can maintain a proactive security posture, allowing them to identify and remediate vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by attackers. In contrast, manual configuration audits can be time-consuming and may not be as thorough or consistent as automated scans. While they can provide insights into individual configurations, they do not offer the ongoing assessment that scheduled scans provide. Random file integrity checks focus more on the integrity of specific files rather than assessing overall system vulnerabilities, and utilizing performance benchmarks is more related to system efficiency than security vulnerabilities. Hence, scheduled vulnerability scans stand out as the most reliable method for continuous vulnerability assessment.