What is the main purpose of a Nessus scanner?

The main purpose of a Nessus scanner is to conduct vulnerability assessments. Nessus is a widely used tool specifically designed to identify security vulnerabilities in systems, applications, and networks. By scanning for known vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, and compliance violations, Nessus helps organizations understand their security posture and remediate weaknesses before they can be exploited by attackers.

Conducting vulnerability assessments is crucial for organizations because it allows them to proactively identify potential security risks, prioritize remediation efforts, and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. Nessus achieves this through a combination of automated scanning capabilities, extensive vulnerability databases, and customizable reporting features, which enable users to effectively analyze and respond to security threats.

Other options, while related to security and IT operations, do not reflect the primary function of Nessus. Managing network firewalls, optimizing cloud services, or acting as a network bridge are roles typically assigned to other tools or technologies, highlighting that Nessus is distinctly focused on vulnerability identification and assessment within various IT environments.