A vulnerability assessment identifies security weaknesses within an organization’s network, applications, and systems. It provides a comprehensive overview of potential risks but stops short of exploiting them. In contrast, a penetration test actively attempts to exploit vulnerabilities to determine the actual level of risk. While a vulnerability assessment focuses on identifying and prioritizing risks, a penetration test simulates real-world attacks to gauge how an attacker might exploit these weaknesses. Both are essential for a robust security strategy, with vulnerability assessments typically performed more frequently.