DSST Cybersecurity Fundamentals Practice Exam 2025 - Free Cybersecurity Practice Questions and Study Guide

The concept of an ingress attack vector refers specifically to the method or pathway through which unauthorized access is gained to a target's assets. In cybersecurity, ingress points are crucial because they represent vulnerabilities that could be exploited by an attacker to enter a network, system, or application. This type of attack vector encompasses various techniques and methods such as exploiting weak passwords, phishing, or other social engineering tactics that enable an attacker to penetrate defenses and gain access.

The other options do not fit the definition of an attack vector associated with accessing a target's assets. Egress typically pertains to data leaving a network, often in the context of data exfiltration or unauthorized transmission of information. An audit trail involves keeping records of system activity for the purpose of security monitoring and compliance; it is not a method for gaining access. Lastly, a payload refers to the actual content or code that is delivered by a malicious actor, which may be used after gaining access but is not an access method in itself. Thus, ingress accurately describes the type of attack vector focused on entering a target asset.