What is a vulnerability assessment?

A vulnerability assessment is defined as the systematic evaluation of security weaknesses within an organization. This process involves identifying, classifying, and prioritizing vulnerabilities in systems, networks, and applications, allowing organizations to understand their security posture and the risks they face.

The goal of a vulnerability assessment is to identify potential threats and weaknesses that could be exploited by attackers, providing the organization with a clear understanding of where improvements are necessary to bolster security defenses. By conducting such assessments, organizations can establish mitigation strategies, allocate resources effectively, and enhance overall security measures to protect critical data and assets.

While the other options address different areas, they do not pertain to the evaluation of security weaknesses. For example, assessing employee performance, testing software functionality, or auditing financial records do not involve analyzing vulnerabilities related to information security. Therefore, the systematic approach in option B specifically highlights the essence of what a vulnerability assessment entails, making it the correct choice.