CompTIA CASP+ Practice Test

What should a network security administrator perform first when merging two networks?

1. Integrate the existing systems immediately.

2. Perform a vulnerability assessment on the new network.

3. Review existing user access controls.

4. Update all firewall rules for compatibility.

The correct answer is: Perform a vulnerability assessment on the new network.

The initial step a network security administrator should prioritize when merging two networks is to perform a vulnerability assessment on the new network. Conducting a vulnerability assessment is crucial because it helps identify potential security weaknesses and threats present in the combined infrastructure before any integration takes place. This proactive approach ensures that any existing vulnerabilities do not compromise the security of either network during the integration process. Understanding the vulnerabilities helps the security administrator to develop a strategic plan for securing the network and addressing any identified issues early on. This step is critical because merging two networks can expose new attack surfaces and may unintentionally propagate existing vulnerabilities from one network to the other. While reviewing existing user access controls and updating firewall rules are also important tasks during a merger, they should be performed after assessing the network's security posture. Immediate integration of systems without understanding the security implications can lead to significant risks, making it paramount to start with a thorough evaluation of vulnerabilities.