What is a key benefit of passive scanning in application security?

Passive scanning in application security is beneficial primarily because it allows for the identification of vulnerabilities without actively interacting with the software components. This method involves monitoring and analyzing traffic to and from the application in a non-intrusive manner. By responding silently to vulnerability requests, passive scanning minimizes the risk of inadvertently altering the application state or affecting the user experience during the scanning process. It effectively collects data about the application without making any changes or executing potentially harmful actions, which is particularly useful in production environments where stability is paramount.

In contrast, options that involve active interaction or real-time analysis may introduce risks or performance issues. Generating manual test cases is also not characteristic of passive scanning, as it pertains to a more direct approach in assessing application security through structured testing rather than passive monitoring.