What is the focus of an external vulnerability assessment?

An external vulnerability assessment primarily focuses on evaluating the security of a system from the standpoint of an outside attacker. This type of assessment is critical because it mimics the actions of a potential cybercriminal who is probing for weaknesses that could be exploited to gain unauthorized access or cause other forms of damage.

By evaluating security from an external viewpoint, organizations can identify vulnerabilities that may be exposed to the internet or other outside networks, thereby allowing them to address these weaknesses before they can be exploited by malicious actors. This proactive approach helps to strengthen the overall security posture of the organization and protect sensitive data and resources.

This focus contrasts significantly with other options, which address different aspects of security. Evaluating software applications for internal weaknesses pertains to application security assessments, which look internally for vulnerabilities that might be exploited from within the organization's network. Similarly, assessing a system's security from an internal perspective involves analyzing security controls and configurations that are meant to protect the network from internal threats rather than external ones. Lastly, improving employee security training is a crucial component of overall security awareness, but it does not directly relate to identifying external vulnerabilities in a system.

Thus, the correct answer emphasizes the importance of understanding how an external threat actor perceives an organization's security measures and the potential points of entry