In risk management, what typically demonstrates the presence of vulnerabilities?

In risk management, vulnerability assessments are specifically designed to identify, quantify, and prioritize vulnerabilities within an organization's information systems. These assessments involve systematic evaluation methods that help discover weaknesses in system configurations, software flaws, and other security gaps that could be exploited by threats. By conducting vulnerability assessments, organizations can gain clear insights into their vulnerabilities, enabling them to take steps to mitigate risks effectively.

Self-assessments and compliance checks serve different purposes; they help organizations evaluate their adherence to policies, procedures, and relevant laws but do not inherently demonstrate vulnerabilities. Threat models analyze possible adversarial actions and the associated impacts on assets but do not focus directly on identifying specific vulnerabilities within systems. Therefore, vulnerability assessments play a crucial role in pinpointing vulnerabilities directly, making them the most relevant choice in this context.