What primary purpose does the PVS serve within the ACAS framework?

The primary purpose of the PVS (Passive Vulnerability Scanner) within the ACAS (Assured Compliance Assessment Solution) framework is to provide network traffic analysis. The PVS is designed to monitor network traffic passively, allowing it to identify and alert on vulnerabilities without the need to actively probe systems or disrupt normal operations.

By analyzing the data that flows across the network, the PVS can detect potential vulnerabilities based on the traffic patterns and the types of protocols being used, as well as the presence of known vulnerabilities within applications and devices connected to the network. This passive approach not only ensures that the scanning does not interfere with the operations of network services, but it also allows for the detection of vulnerabilities in real-time as they appear within the environment.

In contrast to the other options, which focus on different aspects of vulnerability management or compliance, the role of the PVS is specifically tied to passive observation and analysis, making network traffic its key function in the context of ACAS.