What is the primary goal of reviewing software development policies during security assessments?

The primary goal of reviewing software development policies during security assessments is to confirm secure coding practices. This is crucial because secure coding practices are essential for minimizing vulnerabilities in software applications that could be exploited by attackers. By assessing the policies related to software development, organizations can ensure that best practices are being followed throughout the development lifecycle, which includes the initial design, coding, testing, and deployment stages of software.

Secure coding practices encompass a range of techniques aimed at protecting the application from threats such as injection attacks, buffer overflows, and other common vulnerabilities. By emphasizing the need for these practices in the development policies, the organization can promote a security-focused culture among developers, ultimately leading to a more secure system architecture.

The other options, while relevant in different contexts, do not focus primarily on security. Compliance with licensing pertains more to legal and regulatory aspects, enhancing user experience is about usability and design rather than security, and reducing operational costs relates to financial perspectives rather than directly improving the security posture of software applications. Hence, the focus on secure coding practices is what aligns most closely with the goals of a security assessment.