Which of the following represents an active assessment technique?

Simulating a phishing attack is considered an active assessment technique because it involves direct interaction with the target environment in an effort to test its defenses. This method allows organizations to see how employees respond to real-time threats, thereby assessing their awareness and the effectiveness of their security training and protocols. By engaging users in this manner, organizations can actively identify weaknesses in their security posture and reinforce the importance of vigilance against phishing attempts.

Other methods listed, such as external vulnerability scanning, reviewing system logs, and collecting configuration settings, are more passive in nature. They involve analyzing existing security measures, configurations, and historical data rather than actively stimulating potential security incidents or human responses.