What is a primary objective of conducting a vulnerability assessment?

The primary objective of conducting a vulnerability assessment is to identify security weaknesses. This process involves systematically evaluating an organization's information system to uncover vulnerabilities that could potentially be exploited by malicious actors. By identifying these weak points, organizations can prioritize remediation efforts, allocate resources effectively, and develop strategies to mitigate risks.

Vulnerability assessments help organizations understand their security posture by providing a clear view of existing vulnerabilities across various systems, applications, and network devices. This proactive approach enables developers, system administrators, and security professionals to address potential security issues before they can be exploited, thereby enhancing the overall security of the organization.

The other options, while related to cybersecurity, do not specifically align with the primary goal of a vulnerability assessment. Installing firewalls and patching software are important actions that may result from findings in a vulnerability assessment but are not the assessment’s main objective. Monitoring network traffic is a different activity focused on detecting ongoing attacks or intrusions rather than assessing vulnerabilities in the system.