What is vulnerability scanning?
Vulnerability scanning is an automated process used to identify potential security weaknesses in computer networks, systems, and applications. Individuals and network administrators use them to measure system vulnerabilities before attackers or hackers exploit them. Vulnerability scanners scan systems, networks, and applications, looking for missing security patches, unconfigured settings, or weak passwords. If such vulnerabilities are detected, suitable recommendations are generated to improve the system's security.
See also: vulnerability, vulnerability management system, vulnerability assessment, vulnerability disclosure, threat assessment, network scanning, threat monitoring
Why is vulnerability scanning important?
Vulnerability scanning is important because it helps organizations:
- Identify security weaknesses before hackers can exploit them.
- Prioritize and address the most critical vulnerabilities first.
- Comply with industry regulations and security standards.
- Maintain a proactive approach to cybersecurity.
- Protect sensitive data and maintain customer trust.
How does vulnerability scanning work?
Vulnerability scanning works by following these steps:
- The scanning tool is set up and configured to target specific systems or networks.
- The tool sends requests to the targeted systems to identify open ports, services, and applications.
- The scanner compares the identified services and applications against a database of known vulnerabilities.
- If a match is found, the scanner flags the vulnerability and assigns it a severity rating.
- The scanner generates a report detailing the discovered vulnerabilities, their severity, and recommended remediation steps.
What is vulnerability scanning used for?
Vulnerability scanning is used to proactively identify and assess security weaknesses in an organization's IT infrastructure. By regularly scanning systems, networks, and applications, organizations can prioritize and address risks based on severity, comply with industry standards, and protect sensitive data from potential breaches.
What are the types of vulnerability scans?
- Network scans. These scans look for vulnerabilities in your network infrastructure, like open ports, unsecured protocols, and misconfigured firewalls. They help you secure your network perimeter.
- Host scans. These scans focus on individual computers or servers. They check for things like missing patches, weak passwords, and insecure configurations on each host.
- Web application scans. As the name suggests, these scans target web apps. They look for common web vulnerabilities like SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and broken authentication.
- Database scans. These scans specifically look for vulnerabilities in your databases, such as weak passwords, misconfigurations, and outdated software versions.
- Wireless network scans. If your organization uses Wi-Fi, these scans can help identify weak spots in your wireless network security, like rogue access points or weak encryption.
What is an example of a vulnerability scanner?
NordVPN’s Threat Protection Pro™ has an integrated vulnerability scanner. This user-friendly tool scans your device for vulnerabilities, outdated software, and potential threats, even when you're not connected to a VPN. It generates easy-to-understand reports and provides guidance on fixing any issues found, making it a convenient addition to your cybersecurity toolkit, especially if you're already a NordVPN user.
