Baseline compliance scanning should alert on any deviation from the baseline.

Baseline compliance scanning is a technique used to ensure that systems adhere to predefined security standards and configurations. The primary purpose of conducting these scans is to identify deviations from established baselines, which can indicate potential security vulnerabilities or misconfigurations.

When a system deviates from the baseline, it may pose risks that could be exploited by threats, thus alerting administrators to investigate further. However, not every deviation necessarily requires an alert, especially if the deviation is understood, documented, and deemed acceptable due to legitimate reasons or if it falls within an organization's tolerance for risk.

The statement that "baseline compliance scanning should alert on any deviation from the baseline" does not accurately reflect the nuanced approach often needed in security management. Alerts should be prioritized based on the severity and implications of the deviation, rather than triggering on every single change.

Therefore, it is more appropriate to consider that baseline compliance scanning does not have to alert on every deviation, as these can be part of routine changes, updates, or adjustments that have been authorized. This understanding enables organizations to focus on significant deviations that could genuinely affect security posture, rather than overwhelming alert systems with minor or acceptable changes.