Performing a retest is the BEST step to verify the effectiveness of the remediation efforts. A retest ensures that the vulnerabilities identified in the initial report have been successfully addressed and that the patches or configuration changes have not introduced any new vulnerabilities. Retests can also confirm that the system's overall security posture has improved as a result of the remediation actions. Simply reviewing the patch reports, while informative, does not provide the level of assurance that a hands-on retest does. Discussing hypotheticals during a follow-up meeting may be helpful but is no substitute for actual testing. Finally, waiting for an incident is not a proactive approach and could result in unnecessary risk to the client.