Today,
securing systems is critical in the digital world. But then again, how will we
know where are all weaknesses coming from? Vulnerability assessments and
penetration tests fill this gap.
What is a vulnerability assessment?
Think of a vulnerability assessment as a comprehensive security checkup. Similar to how a doctor examines your body, this process determines, measures, and prioritizes weaknesses in a system. Those weaknesses, known as vulnerabilities, can occur in nearly any system-from the IT infrastructure of your company to a water or power grid. Vulnerability assessments are an important tool for businesses of all sizes, as they help understand and manage risks related to security.
How do vulnerability scanners work?
Imagine a tool that scans your computer for viruses. Vulnerability scanners operate on a similar principle but delve deeper. These programs are designed to pinpoint known weaknesses in computers, networks, and applications. They function by identifying misconfigurations, flaws in code, and other issues that attackers could exploit. Modern vulnerability scanners offer both authenticated and unauthenticated scans, providing a more comprehensive view of your system's security posture.
Why are penetration tests necessary?
While vulnerability assessments make a great first step, they are not the whole picture. This is where penetration testing comes in, often labeled as the most crucial step. Penetration testers work somewhat like ethical hackers who simulate real attacks on a company's infrastructure to reveal vulnerabilities that automated scanners might miss.
Why are both assessments important?
Imagine a doctor relying solely on scans to diagnose your health. Penetration testing is providing additional insights that scanners cannot capture. The integration of vulnerability assessments with penetration testing gives you a complete understanding of the security posture of your system.
Limitations of automated scanners:
Automated vulnerability scanners have limitations, mainly when dealing with complex systems that have servers and PCs. They may not pick up vulnerabilities which are related to some ports or software versions. In addition, an entirely scanner-based approach would most likely result in long reports of vulnerabilities devoid of the depth and context added by a professional penetration tester.
Now that we have defined it, to enable a vulnerability assessment report to be successful, the two have to go hand in hand. So, penetration testing is also needed. This is one of the most important of all since, as a penetration tester, your report is the key to informing the client about the essential details of the assessment. Moreover, automated vulnerability scanners are tools to fasten your analysis; however, do not rely on this because it gives a false/positive and to ensure that our report is validated. We can carry out a manual vulnerability scan; we can do this by using open-source tools like Nmap, Nikto, Wireshark, and Metasploit to prove that the automated vulnerability scan is true and correct; it gives us more accuracy and confidence that our report is correct.
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