What is the purpose of a vulnerability scan?

The primary purpose of a vulnerability scan is to identify weaknesses in a system. This process involves systematically searching for potential security gaps that could be exploited by attackers or lead to unauthorized access. By detecting these vulnerabilities, organizations can take proactive steps to mitigate risks, apply patches, and improve their overall security posture. Vulnerability scans help in assessing the security state of systems and can guide prioritization in risk management efforts.

In contrast, forecasting future threats involves anticipating potential cyber threats based on trends and intelligence, which is a different aspect of security management than identifying existing vulnerabilities. Monitoring employee behavior, while important for security, focuses more on insider threats and compliance with policies rather than on technical vulnerabilities within a system. Enhancing security protocols may be a result of findings from a vulnerability scan, but it does not capture the direct function of the scan itself.