A company experiences frequent data breaches. Which strategy focuses on proactive identification of vulnerabilities?

The strategy that focuses on proactive identification of vulnerabilities is penetration testing. This approach involves simulating attacks on a system to discover weaknesses before malicious players can exploit them. By employing penetration testing, organizations can gain insights into their security posture, identify vulnerabilities in their systems, applications, and network configurations, and address them before they lead to data breaches.

In contrast, security information and event management (SIEM) is primarily focused on collecting and analyzing security data from various sources to detect and respond to incidents that have already occurred. While it is a critical component of an organization’s security strategy, it is more reactive than proactive.

Network monitoring involves tracking and analyzing network traffic to detect anomalies, but it does not inherently focus on identifying vulnerabilities. Instead, it helps in identifying potential security threats and breaches after they occur or while they are happening.

Incident response planning is centered on preparing for, managing, and recovering from security incidents, rather than on identifying vulnerabilities in advance. It focuses on procedures and protocols to follow when a breach has occurred, making it crucial for effective security management, but not geared specifically towards foresight in vulnerability detection.