Vulnerability assessment
Vulnerability Assessment refers to the process of defining, identifying, and classifying risks and vulnerabilities in computer systems, applications, and network infrastructures. It provides security teams and other stakeholders with the information they need to analyze and prioritize risks.
Vulnerability assessments have become an essential and regular part of the overall IT strategy, and there are several different ways to perform them.
Network-Based Scanning
This examines wired and wireless networks to identify suspicious security threats and weaknesses. It looks for unknown or unauthorized devices and systems on the network, including unauthorized remote access and insecure network connections.
Host-Based Scanning
This type of assessment finds vulnerabilities on servers, workstations, and other network hosts, providing details about configuration settings and update histories. It can be used to gain insight into potential threats and issues that may arise from access to your network.
Wireless Scanning
Wireless vulnerability scanners can accurately identify rogue access points and ensure that your business’s network is securely configured.
Application Scanning
This involves scanning websites to find known software vulnerabilities and network or web application configurations that could pose security issues.
Database Scanning
These tools identify weaknesses in database configurations and help determine what changes need to be made to prevent cyberattacks.
Each of these scans can be carried out in different ways. They can be external or internal, with or without authentication.
External vulnerability scanning is performed outside the network, targeting IT infrastructure that is accessible via the internet, including web applications and ports. Internal scanning is conducted within the network and is typically used to enhance security on systems that are only accessible to network users. It focuses on preventing insider threats. Authenticated vulnerability scanning allows the tester to log into the network to view vulnerabilities from the perspective of a verified user, while unauthenticated vulnerability scanning gives a view from the perspective of a potential attacker, allowing the tester to check for security gaps that could be exploited externally.
Organizations should regularly use vulnerability testing to ensure the security of their networks, especially when changes are made, such as adding services or installing new equipment.
Vulnerability Assessment vs. Penetration Testing
Vulnerability assessment uses automated tools to scan network security. The results are listed in a vulnerability assessment report, providing organizations with a list of vulnerabilities that need to be fixed. However, this is done without assessing specific attack goals or scenarios. In contrast, penetration testing involves identifying vulnerabilities in the network and attempting to exploit them to attack the system. Although it is sometimes performed alongside vulnerability assessments, the primary goal of penetration testing is to verify whether the vulnerability actually exists. Unlike penetration testing, vulnerability analysis does not attempt to attack the system but only reports on threats.
A vulnerability assessment provides an organization with details about all the security weaknesses in its environment and gives guidance on how to evaluate the risks associated with those weaknesses. This process offers the organization a better understanding of its assets, security deficiencies, and overall risk, reducing the likelihood of a cyberattack compromising its systems.