A security analyst at a technology solutions firm has uncovered the same vulnerabilities on a vulnerability scan for a long period of time.
The vulnerabilities are on systems that are dedicated to the firm's largest client.
Which of the following is MOST likely inhibiting the remediation efforts?
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A. B. C. D.D.
The correct answer is D. There is an SLA with the client that allows very little downtime.
Explanation:
An SLA (Service Level Agreement) is a contract between a service provider and a client that defines the level of service expected from the provider. In this scenario, the firm has a large client, and an SLA exists between the two parties that allows very little downtime. This means that the systems cannot be taken offline for long periods to perform remediation activities that could fix the vulnerabilities. The SLA requires the firm to ensure high availability of the systems to meet the client's business requirements, and the client may not be willing to tolerate any disruption to their operations.
Option A is incorrect because an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) is not a legally binding agreement and cannot prevent shutting down the systems if it is necessary to remediate the vulnerabilities.
Option B is incorrect because there is no indication that there will be a disruption of the vendor-client relationship if the vulnerabilities are remediated. In fact, not remediating the vulnerabilities may pose a greater risk to the relationship.
Option C is incorrect because there is no mention of the software vendor's involvement in this scenario. Additionally, the fact that the vulnerabilities have been on the systems for a long time indicates that they may have been discovered and reported to the vendor, who may have already provided patches.
In summary, the SLA with the client is the most likely inhibiting factor in the remediation efforts because it limits the downtime that the firm can take to remediate the vulnerabilities.