What is a primary goal of conducting security assessments?

Conducting security assessments primarily aims to evaluate the effectiveness of security controls in mitigating risks. This process involves systematically reviewing and analyzing an organization's security posture to determine whether existing controls are functioning as intended and providing the necessary protection against threats.

Through this assessment, organizations can identify weaknesses or gaps in their security measures, which can then be addressed to enhance resilience against potential attacks. The evaluation helps organizations ensure that their security strategies align with their risk management goals and regulatory requirements, ultimately promoting a stronger security framework and reducing the likelihood of successful breaches.

While maintaining historical data on vulnerabilities, preventing unauthorized access, and documenting software are important activities, they do not encapsulate the overarching objective of security assessments. The main focus is to ensure the controls in place adequately protect organizational assets and respond effectively to identified risks.