Which role performs vulnerability assessments on systems?

The role that performs vulnerability assessments on systems is primarily associated with a security analyst. Security analysts are responsible for identifying, monitoring, and responding to security threats within an organization. One of their key tasks is to conduct vulnerability assessments, which involves evaluating systems, networks, and applications for security weaknesses that could be exploited by attackers. They use a variety of tools and methodologies to assess the security posture of an organization, analyze potential vulnerabilities, and report their findings to ensure that appropriate measures are taken to mitigate risks.

While penetration testers also assess vulnerabilities, their focus is on exploiting identified weaknesses to understand the potential impact of an attack. Their work is typically more targeted and aimed at simulating attacks, which complements the broader vulnerability management practices conducted by security analysts.

On the other hand, network administrators and system programmers have different responsibilities that are essential for maintaining and developing systems, but these roles are not primarily focused on conducting vulnerability assessments. Network administrators manage the network infrastructure and ensure its reliability, while system programmers develop and maintain system software but do not specialize in assessing security vulnerabilities as a primary duty.