What is a critical step in software remediation verification?

A critical step in software remediation verification is to scan the host with a vulnerability scanner. This process involves using a specialized tool to identify any remaining vulnerabilities in the software after remediation efforts have been applied. It assesses the effectiveness of the actions taken, such as updates or patches, ensuring that the software is no longer susceptible to known exploits.

The use of a vulnerability scanner provides a systematic method to verify that all security measures have been successfully implemented and that there are no additional vulnerabilities present. This step is essential for maintaining the security posture of systems, especially in an industrial context where software vulnerabilities can have significant operational impacts.

While reviewing user feedback on software, updating the software to the latest version, or deleting outdated files can be helpful practices, they do not specifically serve as verification steps to confirm that remediation actions were successful. They may contribute to overall software management and security hygiene but do not offer the concrete validation that scanning does. Therefore, scanning with a vulnerability scanner stands out as the necessary step in confirming successful software remediation.