Which method is commonly used to assess the security of a system's vulnerabilities?

Penetration testing is a widely used method to evaluate the security of a system by simulating an attack. This proactive approach helps identify vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by malicious actors. During a penetration test, ethical hackers attempt to breach the system’s defenses using various tools and techniques, assessing the effectiveness of current security measures and discovering weaknesses in the system's architecture, configuration, and software.

By exposing these vulnerabilities, penetration testing provides valuable insights that organizations can use to remediate flaws and enhance their overall security posture. The findings often lead to improved security controls, patches, and security policies that better protect the system against real-world threats. This hands-on method is crucial for maintaining the security integrity of systems, as it goes beyond theoretical analysis and actively tests the system against practical attack scenarios.